§90.4.1. Rural Grant Opportunity Program

            A. Applications for funds in the Rural Grant Opportunity Program may be submitted by a rural grant opportunity authority. Applications shall be reviewed in accordance with R.S. 38:90.4(B).

            B. Funds for the program shall not exceed twenty-five percent of the annual capital outlay appropriation of the legislature for the Statewide Flood Control Program. Unencumbered Rural Grant Opportunity Program funds shall be available for use in the Statewide Flood Control Program for rural authorities who do not qualify for grant program funding.

            C. Information included in the application shall satisfy the requirements of R.S. 38:90.4(A)(1) and shall also include but is not limited to the following:

            (1) A resolution from the authority declaring its financial inability to satisfy the local match required pursuant to R.S. 38:90.9(A)(4).

            (2) Financial documentation to support its declaration of financial inability in the resolution shall include a sworn affidavit executed by the authority's private certified public accountant certifying that, after an examination of the authority's financial records, monies are not available out of the accumulated unreserved earnings generated by the authority to meet the Statewide Flood Control Program's ten percent local match requirement.

            D. If the grant application is approved, the authority shall not be required to satisfy the ten percent local match for construction.

            E. Federal matching projects shall not be eligible for funds in accordance with this Section.

            F. No special district shall be eligible to participate in the Rural Grant Opportunity Program.

            Acts 2018, No. 384, §1.