(a) The Institute, under the direction of the Chief Compliance Officer, shall create a compliance training program for Grant Recipients addressing applicable financial, administrative, and programmatic requirements related to proper stewardship over Grant Award funds, including grant reporting.     
      (b) Initial Grant Recipient training program - A Grant Recipient that is approved for a Grant Award for the first time on or after September 1, 2015, shall complete an initial compliance training program. For purposes of this subsection, a Grant Recipient that has received at least one Grant Award prior to September 1, 2015, is not required to complete the initial compliance training program.      
        (1) The Chief Compliance Officer shall design the initial compliance training program.       
        (2) The Grant Recipient must complete the initial compliance training program prior to receiving disbursement of Grant Award funds, unless the Chief Compliance Officer finds good cause to disburse grant funds in advance of completing the initial compliance training program.       
        (3) Nothing herein prohibits the Chief Compliance Officer from requiring a Grant Recipient to complete the initial compliance training program.       
      (c) Annual Grant Recipient training program - All Grant Recipients shall complete an annual compliance training program by November 1, 2016, and then by December 31 of each year thereafter that the Grant Recipient has at least one active Grant Award.      
        (1) The Chief Compliance Officer shall design the annual compliance training program.       
        (2) The Institute shall withhold disbursement of Grant Award funds if the Grant Recipient fails to complete the annual compliance training program by November 1, unless the Chief Compliance Officer finds good cause to disburse grant funds in advance of completing the annual compliance training program.       
      (d) Grant Recipient personnel required to attend training - The Grant Recipient's Authorized Signing Official and at least one other individual employed by the Grant Recipient must attend the trainings required by this rule.      
        (1) Upon a finding of good cause, the Chief Compliance Officer may allow the Grant Recipient to substitute another employee to attend a required training in place of the Authorized Signing Official.       
        (2) In the event that the Authorized Signing Official designated by the Grant Recipient changes on or after November 1, 2016, and the new Authorized Signing Official has not completed the annual compliance training program, the new Authorized Signing Official shall complete the annual compliance training program within 60 days of change. Failure to do so may result in the withholding of Grant Award funds until the training is completed.       
     Source Note:        The provisions of this §703.22 adopted to be effective December 9, 2015, 40 TexReg 8793; amended to be effective March 14, 2019, 44 TexReg 1346