SF 241

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 03/10/2022 09:22am

A bill for an act
relating to education; establishing a funding program for distance learning
equipment; requiring a report; appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin DISTANCE LEARNING BROADBAND ACCESS GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin For purposes of this section, "commissioner" means the
commissioner of education.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin A distance learning broadband access grant program is
established in the Department of Education to provide wireless or wire-line broadband
access for a limited duration to students currently lacking Internet access so that the students
may participate in distance learning offered by school districts and charter schools during
the peacetime public health emergency period that relates to the infectious disease known
as COVID-19.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Eligible expenditures. new text end

new text begin A grant awarded under this section may be used to:
new text end

new text begin (1) provide a student with the equipment necessary for the student to use a broadband
connection to access learning materials available on the Internet through a mobile wireless
or wire-line broadband connection;
new text end

new text begin (2) reimburse a school district or charter school for actual costs incurred to provide
emergency distance learning wireless or wire-line broadband access during the 2019-2020
or 2020-2021 school years; and
new text end

new text begin (3) reimburse a school district or charter school for the cost of wireless or wire-line
broadband Internet access for households with students who did not otherwise have Internet
access before March 13, 2020, for the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school years.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Eligible applicants. new text end

new text begin A Minnesota school district or charter school may apply
for a grant award under this section.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Application review. new text end

new text begin (a) An applicant for a grant under this section must file
an application with the commissioner on a form developed by the commissioner.
new text end

new text begin (b) An application for a grant under this subdivision must describe a school district's or
charter school's approach to identify and prioritize access for students unable to access the
Internet for distance learning and may include a description of local or private matching
grants or in-kind contributions.
new text end

new text begin (c) A school district or charter school may develop its application in cooperation with
the school district's or charter school's community education department, the school district's
or charter school's adult basic education program provider, a public library, an Internet
service provider, or other community partner.
new text end

new text begin (d) The commissioner must prioritize applicants based on an evaluation of the following
factors:
new text end

new text begin (1) the location of a school in or near an unserved area of the state;
new text end

new text begin (2) the percent of students who live in a household without wired or wireless broadband
service; and
new text end

new text begin (3) the percent of students who were provided Internet access by the district or charter
school under subdivision 3, clause (3).
new text end

new text begin (e) The commissioner must develop administrative procedures governing the application
and grant award process.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Grant amount. new text end

new text begin The commissioner must establish a minimum and maximum
per-pupil amount for grants awarded under this section based on (1) the number of districts
and charter schools that apply for a grant, (2) the total amount of money requested in the
applications, and (3) the availability of federal money for a similar purpose.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin $15,000,000 in fiscal year 2022 is appropriated from the general fund to the commissioner
of education for grants to provide wireless or wire-line broadband access for students during
distance learning under section 1. Up to five percent of the appropriation under this section
may be used to reimburse reasonable costs incurred by the Department of Education to
administer section 1. This is a onetime appropriation. Any funds that remain unexpended
on April 15, 2022, are canceled. By May 15, 2022, the commissioner of education must
report to the legislature regarding the districts and charter schools that received grants under
section 1, the per-pupil amount for each grant, and the number of students who were provided
Internet access. The report must also identify the costs to administer the grant program and
the amount canceled.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end