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HomeGovernment CodeDiv. 3Pt. 2Ch. 9Art. 3§ 12736 Community Block Grant Assurances

§ 12736 Community Block Grant Assurances

Government Code·California
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§ 12736 Community Block Grant Assurances

Key Takeaways

  • •The state must use at least 90% of the money to help local groups that fight poverty.
  • •The state can only use up to 5% of the money for its own costs, like paperwork and offices.
  • •The state can't stop giving money to a group that helps poor people unless there's a really good reason and they get a fair chance to explain.
  • •The state must make sure the money is spent correctly and checked every year.

Example

A local food bank gets money every year to help poor families. One year, the state wants to stop giving them money because they think the food bank isn't doing a good job.

The state can't just stop the money. They have to tell the food bank why and give them a chance to explain. If the food bank shows they're doing good work, they keep the money.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 12736 Community Block Grant Assurances

For the purposes of Section 12735, the application shall contain assurance and certification that the state shall comply with all of the items listed below. The application shall include information as to how each assurance will be carried out. (a) Conduct legislative hearings on the proposed use and distribution of Community Services Block Grant funds prior to the submission of each application. (b) Use Community Services Block Grant funds as provided in Section 12745. (c) Use not less than 90 percent of the Community Services Block Grant funds allotted to the state to make grants to eligible entities that meet the provisions of Section 9901 et seq. of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended. (d) Expend not more than 5 percent of the state’s allotment for administrative costs at the state level. (e) Assure that any community action agency or migrant and seasonal farmworker organization that received financial assistance in the previous fiscal year under this chapter shall not have its present or future financial assistance terminated pursuant to this chapter unless, after notice and opportunity for hearing on the record, the department determines that cause existed for the termination, subject to review by the secretary, as provided in Sections 9908 and 9915 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended. (f) Give special consideration, as defined in Section 9909(b) of Title 42 of the United States Code, in the designation of local community action agencies to any community action agency that was receiving funds under any federal antipoverty program on the date of the enactment of federal Public Law 97-35, except that the state shall, before giving special consideration, determine that the agency involved meets program and fiscal requirements established by the state. If there is no such agency because of any change in the assistance furnished to programs for economically disadvantaged persons, the state shall give special consideration in the designation of community action agencies to any successor agency that is operated in substantially the same manner as the predecessor agency that did receive funds in the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year for which the determination is made. (g) Decline to avail itself of permission to transfer Community Services Block Grant funds, not to exceed 5 percent of the state’s allotment, to other specified programs. (h) Prohibit any political activities in accordance with Section 9918 of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended. (i) Prohibit any activities to provide voters and prospective voters with transportation to the polls or provide similar assistance in connection with an election or any voter registration activity. (j) Prohibit the use of funds in accordance with Section 9920(c) of Title 42 of the United States Code, as amended, and as further defined in Part 87 of Title 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended. (k) Provide for coordination between antipoverty programs in each community, where appropriate, with emergency energy crisis intervention programs under Title XXVI of federal Public Law 97-35, as amended, (relating to low-income home energy assistance) conducted in that community. (l) Provide that fiscal control and fund accounting procedures will be established as may be necessary to assure the proper disbursal of and accounting for federal funds paid to the state under this chapter, including procedures for monitoring the assistance provided under this chapter, and provide that at least every year the state shall prepare, in accordance with Public Law 98-502 (Single Audit Act of 1984), as amended, an audit of expenditures under this chapter of amounts received under the Community Services Block Grant and amounts transferred to carry out the purposes of the Community Services Block Grant. (m) Permit and cooperate with federal investigations undertaken in accordance with Public Law 97-35, as amended. (Amended by Stats. 2007, Ch. 46, Sec. 7. Effective January 1, 2008. Repealed conditionally as prescribed by Section 12790.)

Last verified: January 22, 2026

Key Terms

Community Services Block Grant fundseligible entitiesadministrative costsspecial considerationcommunity action agencies

Related Statutes

  • § 12735 Governor'S Federal Compliance Application
  • § 12738 Department Community Services Authority
  • § 12742 State Plan Amendment Process
  • § 12747 Community Action Plan Requirements
  • § 12758 Community Services Block Grant Funds

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Government Code. Section 12736.
View Official Source