§1539 Financial assistance

Summary

The Secretary of Commerce had to write rules within 12 months after October 29, 1992, and after giving public notice and a chance to comment, so that a finished application for a grant, contract, or other financial help under a nondiscretionary program is decided (approved or denied) within 75 days after it is sent to the NOAA program office. Within 14 days of getting an application, the Secretary must tell the applicant in writing if the application is complete and, if not, say what else is needed. If a law or past practice identifies a State or an interstate fishery commission as the recipient, the Secretary may give the money directly to that recipient without a competitive process. A "nondiscretionary assistance program" means a program where Congress names the money and recipient, or where recipients have usually been a State or an interstate fishery commission.