Blake Anderson, Government Relations Analyst, Arizona State University, stated he is in opposition to H.B. 2338. He suggests allowing that group to continue their work before the legislature mandates something which conflicts with that process. Grants are specifically for a particular type of research, and the money cannot be used for anything else. The grant money comes to the university and is distributed to the individual faculty members, and only a pre-set amount goes to administrative costs. Frank Besnette, Executive Director, Arizona Board of Regents, stated he is opposed to H.B. 2338.
Grantors scrutinize costs carefully, and the federal government checks grant monies as well.
All university grant information is available to the public, including the sources and use of the money. The universities negotiate the overhead rate with the National Institute of Science, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Education, and all major funding organizations. That rate is reviewed by auditors and the federal government. There can be exceptions, but most professors involved in grant applications know what their overhead or indirect costs will be. A university could have a number of grants for years, and a new professor might be shocked when its overhead is revealed.