(a) The commission may adopt guidelines governing the award, eligibility, and administration of funding pursuant to this chapter at a publicly noticed meeting offering all interested parties an opportunity to comment. The commission shall provide written public notice of not less than 30 days for the initial adoption of guidelines. Substantive changes to the guidelines shall not be adopted without 15-day written notice to the public. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any guidelines adopted pursuant to this chapter shall be exempt from the requirements of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
(b) Grants and loans made pursuant to this chapter are subject to appeal to the commission upon a showing that factors other than those described in the guidelines adopted by the commission were applied in making the awards and payments.