The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
  (1) Authorized official--The individual, including designated alternates, named by a grant applicant or grant recipient, who is authorized to act for the grant applicant or grant recipient in submitting the grant application and executing the grant agreement and associated documents or requests.
  (2) Comptroller--The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
  (3) Council--The Texas Opioid Abatement Fund Council established by Government Code, §403.503, to manage the distribution of money allocated to the council from the Opioid Abatement Trust Fund, established by Government Code, §403.506 in accordance with a statewide opioid settlement agreement. A reference in this subchapter to the council includes the director and program staff members unless the provision indicates otherwise.
  (4) Council member--A member of the council.
  (5) Director--The program staff member designated by the comptroller to serve as the director for the council who performs duties as necessary to manage the day-to-day operations of the council.
  (6) Grant agreement--A legal agreement executed by a grant recipient and the director, on behalf of the council, setting forth the terms and conditions for a grant award approved by the council.
  (7) Grant applicant--A person or entity that has submitted through an authorized official an application for a grant award under this subchapter.
  (8) Grant application--A written proposal submitted by a grant applicant to the director in the form required by the council that, if successful, will result in a grant award.
  (9) Grant award--Funding awarded by the council pursuant to a grant agreement providing money to the grant recipient to carry out a grant project in accordance with statutes, rules, regulations, and guidance provided by the council.
  (10) Grant recipient--A grant applicant that receives a grant award under this subchapter.
  (11) NOFA--Notice of funding availability.
  (12) Peer review--The review process performed by the peer review panel and used to provide guidance and recommendations to the council in making decisions for grant awards. The process involves the consistent application of standards and procedures to produce a fair, equitable, and objective evaluation of grant applications, based on the evidence-based opioid abatement strategies developed by the council under Government Code, §403.509, as well as other relevant requirements of the NOFA and the grant application.
  (13) Peer review panel--A group of experts in the field of opioid abatement who are selected to conduct peer review of grant applications.
  (14) Peer review panel member--A member of the peer review panel.
  (15) Program staff member--A member of the comptroller's staff assigned by the comptroller to provide assistance to the council. This term includes the director.
  (16) Statewide opioid settlement agreement--A settlement agreement and related documents entered into by this state through the attorney general, political subdivisions that have brought a civil action for an opioid-related harm claim against an opioid manufacturer, distributor, or retailer, and opioid manufacturers, distributors, or retailers relating to illegal conduct in the marketing, promotion, sale, distribution, and dispensation of opioids that provide relief for this state and political subdivisions of this state.

Source Note: The provisions of this §16.200 adopted to be effective July 10, 2023, 48 TexReg 3700