SF1001

Official summary

Bill Summary - 20LSO-0709 Bill No.: SF1001 Effective: Immediately LSO No.: 20LSO-0709 Enrolled Act No.: SEA No. 0001 Chapter No.: 1 Prime Sponsor: Management Council Catch Title: Emergency appropriation-COVID-19 funds-2. Subject: COVID-19 response and appropriation of federal funds. Summary/Major Elements: The federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided the State government of Wyoming with one billion two hundred fifty million dollars ($1,250,000,000) for costs that are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19. This bill provides legislative findings that establish four (4) categorical areas the Legislature intends the State to address and fund, to the extent allowable, as part of the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. The bill appropriates the CARES Act funds, as well as other discretionary funds received from future similarly purposed federal legislation, to the Office of the Governor for broad categories of expenditures authorized by the Legislature. The bill reserves to the Legislature the authority to further review and appropriate these funds. Absent further legislation, the bill releases the appropriation in three funding phases. The expenditures authorized by this bill in relation to the State's COVID-19 response are as follows: Expenses incurred by state entities, including costs under 2020 Senate File 1002 (SEA No. 0002); Expenses incurred by cities, towns, counties and other political subdivisions, in allocations determined by the State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB); Provision of grants to Wyoming health care providers, rural health care districts, hospital districts, and health care facilities to respond to the public health emergency and to improve the State's health care delivery system and infrastructure, including major renovations or capital construction of facilities, subject to the approval of the SLIB; Operational or capital construction expenses at any hospital or other health care facility that is operated by a governmental entity, including the Wyoming Life Resource Center and the Wyoming State Hospital; Capital construction expenses to improve the State’s capacity to provide mental health services, subject to the approval of the State Building Commission; Expenses to address food insecurity, as determined by the Governor, including expenses to produce and process food incurred by businesses, cooperatives and political subdivisions; Expenses of the judicial and legislative branches; Provision of grants for expenses incurred on the Wind River Reservation, subject to the approval of the SLIB; Capital construction expenses to improve the State's emergency health care capacity; Provision of funding for costs experienced by Wyoming businesses that were directed to cease or limit business operations under a statewide order issued by the Governor or the State Health Officer; For any other COVID-19 related purposes authorized by legislative act. All expenditures carried out under the bill must also be consistent with the terms of the federal appropriation and in accordance with state and federal laws, regulations, and orders. Absent further legislation, the bill releases the appropriation in three (3) phases for the authorized purposes: On the effective date of the bill, four hundred fifty million dollars ($450,000,000) is released; On July 15, an additional four hundred million dollars ($400,000,000) plus any amounts remaining from the first phase is released; On September 15, 2020, any remaining funds are released. The bill authorizes the Governor to establish temporary, emergency programs consistent with the terms of the bill and the federal law to carry out the expenditures authorized by the bill. Temporary programs would terminate on December 30, 2020, unless continued by the Legislature. The bill conditions the appropriated funds by requiring Attorney General review, recipient reporting of other federal aid, and reporting sufficient to comply with federal requirements. The bill also prohibits further revision, changes, or redistribution of the funds by the Governor through the "B-11" process. The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent. While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.