The following words and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall have the respective meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(1) ACT. The Alabama Community Service Grant Program Act of 1989.

(2) GRANT. The award by a state grant-making agency of funds appropriated by the Legislature or from funds received as gifts or donations to a qualifying grant-recipient agency for expenditure according to the provisions of a grant proposal.

(3) GRANT-MAKING AGENCY. A state agency of the State of Alabama, designated by the Legislature through an Alabama Community Service Grant Program appropriation, having authority to approve grant proposals, direct and coordinate the expenditure of grant funds.

(4) GRANT PROPOSAL. A written plan for the expenditure of grant funds by a grant-recipient agency, which meets one or more of the purposes delineated in Section 41-24-3, subject to approval by and to be expended under the direction of the head of the grant-making agency.

(5) GRANT RECIPIENT AGENCY. A local community agency, organization, institution or project within the State of Alabama whose grant proposal has been approved by a grant-making agency.

The purpose of this chapter is to create the Alabama Community Service Grant Program to advance the program objectives of participating state departments and agencies by the awarding of grants to qualified community agencies, institutions, organizations and projects within the State of Alabama. The Legislature recognizes that the program objectives of the several departments and agencies of the State of Alabama can be advanced and, in some cases, advanced in a more economical manner by awarding grants to qualified grant recipient agencies, when the expenditure of such grant funds are made under the approval, direction and in coordination with the grant-making agency. The Legislature may from time to time appropriate state funds to grant-making agencies in accordance with the provisions of this chapter under the title, 'Alabama Community Service Grant Program'; said funds shall be awarded to grant recipient agencies in denominations approved by and the expenditure of same shall be under the control of the heads of grant-making agencies.

Alabama community service grants shall be made only for the following purposes: 1) To enhance the education of the citizenry through activities, expenditures for capital improvements or equipment, that promote literacy, learning, arts appreciation, public health and mental health; 2) to promote activities that provide human and social services which reduce the hardships of old age, poor health or poverty; 3) to promote the marketability, yield or quality of Alabama-produced agricultural commodities; and 4) to promote the preservation, restoration, development and propagation of Alabama's natural resources, recreational facilities, environment, history, culture, transportation lanes, tourism, public safety, historic landmarks and buildings.

It will be the responsibility of the heads of grant-making agencies to evaluate grant proposals based on the criteria shown in Section 41-24-5; to monitor and insure that the expenditure of grant funds are in accordance with the associated grant proposal, this chapter and relevant state laws; and upon finding that such grant expenditures are not in accordance with the aforementioned conditions, to suspend the release of further grant funds and take action to recover the improperly expended grant funds; to design and distribute its grant proposal instrument; to maintain up-to-date records of all grants that are currently in effect; to maintain records of all completed grants and grant proposals that were denied for a period of three full years; and may promulgate reasonable rules to implement and enforce the provisions of this chapter.

The heads of grant making agencies shall evaluate grant proposals based on the relevance of such proposals to the purposes for which such grants shall be made, as stated in Section 41-24-3; the extent to which such grant proposal advances the program objective(s) of the grant-making agency, the ability of the grant recipient to fulfill the objectives of the grant proposal, the extent to which the grant proposal can benefit the greatest number of citizens, without persistently excluding any geographic regions of the state. All of the above information may be ascertained by appropriate measures, which shall include interviews, public hearings and recommendations by members of the Legislature.