Chief Patron: Coyner
Reimbursement for Education Access Decisions (READ) (language only)

Item 479.10 #1h

Language

Page 204, line 9, strike "Not set out." and insert:

“A.1. The Governor is hereby authorized to appropriate sums to state agencies, institutions of higher education, and other permissible entities the federal funding provided pursuant to the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 116-123), the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L. 116-127), the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116- 136), and any other federal funding provided through subsequent legislation approved by Congress with regard to the Coronavirus public health emergency. For the purposes of this item, such federal funding shall be referred collectively to as "federal relief funds". All such federal relief funds shall be subject to applicable federal rules and regulations governing these funds. Amounts so allocated are hereby appropriated subject to the provisions and conditions contained in this item.

2. Records Management and Reporting

a. Agencies receiving federal relief funds shall comply with the financial or other data reporting requirements set forth by the State Comptroller or the Director of the Department of Planning and Budget and shall compile and maintain all records necessary to fulfill such reporting requirements and to meet any subsequent audit of the expenditure of such federal funds.

b. Agencies receiving federal relief funds shall comply with all federal reporting requirements for the receipt of any funds and shall compile and maintain all records necessary to fulfill such reporting requirements and to meet any subsequent audit of the expenditure of such federal funds.

c. Agencies receiving federal relief funds shall comply with any requirements established to ensure the transparency of the use or expenditure of such federal funds.

3. The Governor or his designee shall submit a quarterly report to the Chairs of House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees that itemizes any appropriation action of federal relief funds.

4. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Commonwealth maximize the use of the federal relief funds. The Governor shall take all reasonable actions necessary to apply for federal relief funds. The Governor shall further ensure that funds are appropriated, distributed, and utilized in a manner that is consistent with the provisions of state and federal law.

B. The Governor is authorized to appropriate, within this item or any other item of this act, any revenues deposited to the COVID-19 Relief Fund created pursuant to House Bill 881 and Senate Bill 971 of the 2020 Session of the General Assembly. Such appropriations shall be used for the purposes of responding to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic which shall include, but not be limited to, i) relief to small businesses, ii) assistance for housing and homelessness, iii) assistance for long term care facilities, and iv) any other purpose designated by the Governor to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor is authorized to transfer such appropriations and associated revenues to agencies designated to carry out the services required to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The Governor or his designee shall report the use of the COVID-19 Relief Fund to the Chairs of House Appropriations and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees on a quarterly basis.

C. Any reports required by paragraphs A or B above may be submitted electronically. Further, the reporting requirement shall be considered to have been met if the required information is posted on a public website.

D. Any unexpended balance remaining in this item on June 30, 2021, or June 30, 2022, shall be carried forward on the books of the Comptroller and shall be available for expenditure in the next biennium.

E.1. Localities may establish programs to provide funds to parents meeting compulsory attendance requirements in § 22.1-254.A of the Code during the Coronavirus public health emergency by having their children taught by a tutor or teacher of qualifications prescribed by the Board of Education and approved by the division superintendent in lieu of enrollment in the public school system.  Such programs may reimburse parents for: (i) tutoring services; (ii) educational therapies or services for students from a practitioner or provider, including paraprofessionals or educational aides; (iii) tuition or fees for a private online learning program; (iv) fees for a nationally standardized norm-referenced achievement test, an Advanced Placement examination, or any examination taken to gain admission to an institution of higher education; (v) transportation; (vi) computer hardware and software; and (vii) consumable educational supplies or any other education-related goods or services, such as Internet access, that are necessary for the provision of the student's education.

2. Out of this appropriation, $100,000,000 in the first year from the Coronavirus Relief Funds awarded to the Commonwealth through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136) are provided to reimburse localities for one-half of the cost of such program.  The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall establish a timeline for the submission of reimbursement requests that aligns with the Coronavirus Relief Fund deadline for incurring expenses.

3. One-half of the cost of such program shall be funded by the locality through local revenues or the federal funding provided to the locality pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L. 116-136), or any other federal funding provided through subsequent legislation approved by Congress with regard to the Coronavirus public health emergency, to the extent permitted by federal law.

4. If additional federal funding is provided through subsequent legislation approved by Congress with regard to the Coronavirus public health emergency and federal law permits such funds to be used to support programs as provided in paragraph E.1, the Governor shall reserve a reasonable amount to provide reimbursements for such programs."