The Citizenship Promotion Program provides funding to nonprofit organizations or accredited educational institutions for naturalization-related programs and activities for eligible legal permanent residents seeking to become United States citizens. The Maryland Office for New Americans (MONA) in the Family Investment Administration administers the funding. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated. Terms Defined. “Citizenship services provider” means: A nonprofit organization that provides immigration services; or An accredited educational institution that provides instruction in English as a second language, or civics, or both. “Grantee” means a citizenship services provider who is a recipient of a Citizenship Promotion Program grant. “Legal permanent resident” means an individual who: Has established legal residence in the United States (U.S.); and Is legally eligible to apply to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. “Office” means the Maryland Office of New Americans (MONA) of the Family Investment Administration in the Department of Human Services. “Program” means the Citizenship Promotion Program. The Office shall allocate Program funds through grants for the following activities: Outreach and community organizing; Citizenship application assistance; Immigration counseling; Instruction in English as a second language; Civics and U.S. history classes; and Support services such as child care and transportation. The Office shall: Prepare and distribute not later than 30 days before proposals are due an annual request for proposals (RFP) to: Community-based organizations and agencies that provide immigration-related services to the foreign-born, Ethnic organizations, and Educational institutions; Inform the following of the availability of the RFP: Ethnic media outlets, The Governor's Office of Asian Pacific American Affairs, The Governor's Commission on Hispanic Affairs, The Governor's Commission on Migratory and Seasonal Farm Labor, and Local government agencies in jurisdictions with a significant immigrant presence; Convene an evaluation committee, consisting of at least three members who have knowledge of the naturalization process or immigrant populations, or both; Hold a prebid conference to familiarize potential grant applicants with the requirements of the RFP; Reserve the right to make site visits to potential grantees before deciding on the final awards; Provide written notice of its award decisions to all grant applicants; and Inform grantees of the amounts of their program awards and the names of the other grantees. In allocating grant funds to applicants, the Office shall consider: The applicant's status as either: A nonprofit agency, as defined by 26 U.S.C. §501(c)(3); or An educational institution accredited or approved by the: Maryland Department of Education, Maryland Higher Education Commission, or Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training; The applicant's demonstrated expertise in immigration law; The applicant's demonstrated effectiveness in providing outreach or educational activities to immigrants; Whether the applicant's capacity and internal controls are adequate to meet grant requirements; The number of immigrants who reside in the applicant's jurisdiction of residence; and The applicant's stated measurable objectives. Grantees shall: Maintain financial records according to generally accepted standards of accounting; Retain documentation of all income and expenditures related to the grant for 3 years from the date of receipt of the grant; and Upon 7 days notice, present all books, records, and documents relating to the grant for inspection by State auditors or others authorized to monitor the performance of the Program. The grantee shall: Provide one or more of the citizenship promotion activities specified in Regulation .03 of this chapter; Keep records on Program participants that include: Photocopies of both sides of the participant's Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Alien Registration Receipt Form (1-55 or “green card”), and The participant's address and telephone number at the time of completion of Program participation; Submit quarterly a narrative report to the Office that accurately reflects the accomplishment of the measurable objectives stipulated in the applicant's proposal; and Submit a final narrative report which includes the information specified in §A(2) of this regulation. The Office shall: Reserve the right to require the grantee to lower a fee to a level the Office considers to be reasonable; and Serve as a clearinghouse for citizenship service providers for: Information on naturalization and citizenship, and Timely information on revisions of INS regulations. The Office may monitor grantee performance by: Review of statistical and narrative reports; Site visits; or Both §C(1) and (2) of this regulation. Human Services Article, §6-706, Annotated Code of Maryland Effective date: June 26, 2000 (27:12 Md. R. 1137) Chapter recodified from COMAR 07.06.21 to COMAR 07.03.24, effective June, 2009