(a) The department shall approve or deny each application received pursuant to Section 30035.3 within 90 days of receipt and, if the application is approved, shall determine the amount of funding to be provided to each applicant city, county, or city and county, subject to subdivision (a) of Section 30035.5. The department’s decision to approve or deny an application and the determination of the amount of funding to be provided shall be final.
(b) The criteria specified in paragraphs (1) through (9), inclusive, of subdivision (b) of Section 30035.3 shall be the primary basis upon which the department determines whether to approve or deny an application and the amount of funds to award to an applicant city, county, or city and county. The department may consider any other criteria it deems appropriate, provided that any additional criteria are germane to making an award decision and further the purposes of the program.
(c) The department shall encourage applicant cities, counties, and cities and counties to match the requested program funds, to the greatest extent possible, using local funds. In the event that the department determines that, based on the criteria specified in subdivision (b), two or more applications are equal in merit, the department shall give priority to those applicant cities, counties, or cities and counties that agree to provide the largest amount of local matching funds proportionate to the amount of program funds for which they have applied.
(d) If the department approves an application and receives subsequent notification that the applicant city, county, or city and county has provided final issuance of a conditional use permit or other local entitlement as required by paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 30035.3, the Director of Finance, or his or her designee, shall direct the State Controller to remit to the applicant city, county, or city and county the amount of program funding approved by the department from those funds designated for that purpose in any budget act or other measure.
(Added by Stats. 2016, Ch. 32, Sec. 65. (SB 837) Effective June 27, 2016.)