SECTION 150:15-9-1. Purpose

(a)   The Oklahoma Department of Commerce recognizes that the effective use of limited Community Development Block Grant resources depends on the capacity of general-purpose units of local government to administer such funds. In cases where the government does not plan to administer such grants with its own staff, it is in the interest of the state and the local governments to ensure that those who contract to provide CDBG administrative services for a fee are thoroughly familiar with all relevant rules, regulations and policies of the program; therefore,

(b)   All persons who administer CDBG grants for a fee, regardless of the source of pay, and who are not full-time employees of units of general purpose local government, shall be certified as CDBG grant administrators by the Department of Commerce before being hired for CDBG grant administration by CDBG grantees. Full-time employees of units of general-purpose local government do not have to be certified to administer CDBG grants, but their salaries or wages cannot be charged as an administrative expense unless they are certified. ODOC will maintain a list of certified CDBG grant administrators for review by interested grantees.

(c)   The authority for such certification process is given to the State of Oklahoma pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§ 5301, et seq.

[Source: Added at 15 Ok Reg 2937, eff 3-30-98 through 7-14-99 (emergency); Added at 16 Ok Reg 3387, eff 8-12-99]