AB564: Bill Text

MPG&KRP:amn

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Assembly BILL 564

September 16, 2021 - Introduced by Representative Plumer. Referred to Committee on Mental Health.

AB564,1,4 An Act to create 20.932 of the statutes; relating to: reports concerning state agency expenditure of federal coronavirus relief funds and allocating federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 funding for grants to school districts, independent charter schools, and private schools for mental health programs.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under this bill, each state agency, which is broadly defined in the bill to include any body in state government created or authorized to be created by the Wisconsin Constitution or any law, that submits a status update or compliance or other report to the federal government concerning the state agency's expenditure of federal coronavirus relief funds must immediately do all of the following upon submission of that status update or report:

1. Submit a copy of the status update or report to the Joint Committee on Finance.

2. Post a copy of the status update or report on the state agency's Internet site in such manner as to make the status update or report readily accessible to the citizens of this state.

The bill also requires the governor to allocate at least $100,000,000 of the moneys received under the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to the Department of Public Instruction for grants to school districts, independent charter schools, and private schools for mental health programs. Before awarding the grants, the governor and DPI must submit a report to JCF regarding 1) the total amount of federal coronavirus relief funds received by DPI, school districts, independent charter schools, and private schools; 2) a description regarding how those moneys were spent; and 3) the total amount of those moneys that remain unspent. DPI must post a copy of the report on DPI's Internet site to make the report readily accessible to the citizens of this state.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB564,1 Section 1. 20.932 of the statutes is created to read:

AB564,2,3 20.932 Reporting concerning coronavirus relief funds. (1) Definitions. In this section:

AB564,2,10 (a) “Coronavirus relief funds” means all moneys received by this state from the federal government in connection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, including all moneys received under the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Act of 2020; the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020; the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020; the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act of 2020; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2 (ARPA).

AB564,2,13 (b) “State agency" means an association, authority, board, department, commission, independent agency, institution, office, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law.

AB564,2,17 (2) Reporting requirements. Each state agency that submits a status update or compliance or other report to the federal government concerning the state agency's expenditure of coronavirus relief funds shall immediately, upon that submission, do all of the following:

AB564,2,19 (a) Submit a copy of the status update or report to the joint committee on finance.

AB564,3,3 (b) Post a copy of the status update or report on the state agency's Internet site in such manner as to make the status update or report readily accessible to the citizens of this state.

AB564,2 Section 2. Nonstatutory provisions.

AB564,3,5 (1) School mental health program grants.

AB564,3,14 (a) Of the moneys the governor accepts from the federal government under s. 16.54 pursuant to section 602 of the federal Social Security Act as amended by the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, P.L. 117-2, the governor shall allocate at least $100,000,000 to the department of public instruction for grants to school districts, charter schools under s. 118.40 (2r) and (2x), and private schools, as defined in s. 115.001 (3r), for mental health programs. Before awarding a grant under this paragraph, the governor and the department shall submit a report to the joint committee on finance regarding all of the following information, as of the effective date of this paragraph:

AB564,3,18 1. The total amount of coronavirus relief funds, as defined in s. 20.932 (1) (a), received by the department, school districts, charter schools under s. 118.40 (2r) and (2x), and private schools, including a breakdown of the amount received by each school district, charter school under s. 118.40 (2r) or (2x), and private school.

AB564,3,19 2. A description regarding how the moneys described under subd. 1 . were spent.

AB564,3,20 3. The total amount of moneys described under subd. 1. that remain unspent.

AB564,3,23 (b) The department of public instruction shall post a copy of the report submitted under par. (a) on the department's Internet site in such manner as to make the report readily accessible to the citizens of this state.

AB564,3,24 (End)