Sec. 161.074. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The department shall establish a competitive grant program that promotes innovation in the delivery of aging and disability services and improves the quality of life for individuals receiving those services.

(b) A grant awarded by the department under the program shall be used to:

(1) test innovative practices in the provision of aging and disability services; or

(2) disseminate information regarding innovative practices being used to provide aging and disability services.

(c) The department shall request proposals for the award of a grant under the program. The department shall evaluate the proposals and award a grant based on a proposal's academic soundness, quantifiable effectiveness, and potentially positive impact on the delivery of aging and disability services.

(d) A grant awarded under Subsection (b)(1) must be made to an institution of higher education working in cooperation with a private entity that has committed resources to the project described in the proposal.

(e) A grant recipient may use grant money received under this section only to pay for activities directly related to the purpose of the grant program as described by Subsection (b) and may not use grant money for fees or advertising.

(f) The department shall establish procedures to administer the grant program, including a procedure for the submission of a proposal and a procedure to be used by the department to evaluate a proposal.

(g) The department shall enter into a contract that includes performance requirements with each grant recipient. The department shall monitor and enforce the terms of the contract. The contract must authorize the department to recoup grant money from a grant recipient for failure of the grant recipient to comply with the terms of the contract.

(h) The department shall post on its website a summary of each grant awarded under this section.

(i) The legislature may appropriate money described by Sections 142.0174, 242.0695, 247.0458, and 252.069, Health and Safety Code, including unexpended and unobligated amounts collected during a previous state fiscal biennium, to fund the grant program authorized by this section.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 786 (S.B. 52), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2005.