Section 388.1612a - Healthy schools grant program(1) From the state school aid fund money appropriated in section 11, there is allocated for 2022-2023 only an amount not to exceed $50,000,000.00 for competitive grants to participating schools to lower energy costs and improve health outcomes at school facilities through the healthy schools grant program created under this section. The department shall create a healthy schools grant program to disburse grant funding for the purposes under this section.(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, to receive a grant under this section, a participating school must apply for the grant in a form and manner prescribed by the department, in collaboration with the department of environment, Great Lakes, and energy and the department of health and human services. An application described in this subsection must be evaluated using the following scoring criteria:(a) Utilizing Justice40 parameters.(b) Prioritizing applicants from the National Ambient Air Quality Standards nonattainment zones; high asthma burden areas; environmental justice areas; small area income and poverty estimates (SAIPE) program areas; rural areas, defined by locale codes "43-Rural: Remote" and "42-Rural: Distant" by the National Center for Education Statistics; and communities with high free and reduced lunch participation rates.(c) Prioritizing applicants utilizing union labor and Michigan companies for evaluation and installation of improvements.(d) Prioritizing initial distribution of funds to participating schools that participated in the racial disparities task force initiative evaluating and analyzing opportunities to improve air quality in K to 12 facilities in environmental justice communities.(3) Grants awarded to participating schools under this section must be used only for 1 or more of the following purposes: (a) Indoor air quality improvements, including HVAC and air-conditioning needs.(b) Energy enhancements, including energy efficiencies, on-site renewable energy production, and facility electrification.(c) Toxin remediation, including the removal of lead and, subject to section 168a, asbestos.(d) Drinking water system upgrades, including the installation of hydration stations. A participating school's matching funds requirement to access healthy hydration funding is an eligible use under this subsection.(4) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, each participating school receiving a grant under this section shall match at least 50% of the grant funding received with other sources toward the completion of projects commenced for purposes of this section. The match requirement in this subsection does not apply to funding used for the purposes described in subsection (3)(d).(5) The funds allocated under this section for 2022-2023 are a work project appropriation, and any unexpended funds for 2022-2023 are carried forward into 2023-2024. The purpose of the work project is to lower energy costs and improve health outcomes at school facilities. The estimated completion date of the work project is September 30, 2027.(6) Notwithstanding section 17b, the department shall make payments under this section on a schedule determined by the department.(7) As used in this section, "participating school" means a district or intermediate district.Amended by 2023, Act 320,s 3, eff. 2/13/2024.Added by 2023, Act 103,s 16, eff. 7/21/2023.