Section 13-1312-B - COVID-19 disaster emergency school health and safety grants for 2020-2021 school year.(a) Funding.--For the 2020-2021 school year, the amount of money available under section 1306-B(h)(8)(i) shall be used by the committee to award COVID-19 disaster emergency school health and safety grants to school entities.(b) Purposes of grants.--Each school entity shall be eligible for a COVID-19 disaster emergency school health and safety grant for the following purposes: (1) Purchasing of cleaning and sanitizing products that meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or Department of Health criteria.(2) Training and professional development of staff on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.(3) Purchasing of equipment, including personal protective equipment, thermometers, infrared cameras and other necessary items.(4) Modification of existing areas to effectuate appropriate social distancing to ensure the health and safety of students and staff.(5) Providing mental health services and supports, including trauma-informed approaches for students impacted by the COVID-19 disaster emergency.(6) Purchasing educational technology for distance learning to ensure the continuity of education.(7) Other health and safety programs, items or services necessary to address the COVID-19 disaster emergency.(c) Amount of grants.--The committee shall allocate grants on or before July 15, 2020, to each school entity that submits an application, in the following amounts: (1) Each school district shall receive $120,000, plus an amount determined in paragraph (3).(2) Each intermediate unit, area career and technical school, charter school, regional charter school and cyber charter school shall receive $90,000.(3) An amount determined as follows: (i) Multiply the 2018-2019 average daily membership for each school district by the difference between the amount available in subsection (a) and the sum of the amounts distributed under paragraphs (1) and (2).(ii) Divide the product from subparagraph (i) by the 2018-2019 average daily membership for all school districts.(d) Availability of applications.--The committee shall make the application available to school entities no later than June 20, 2020. The application requirements shall be limited to the school entity's contact information, the specific purpose of the grant based upon the categories specified in subsection (b) with boxes on the application for the applicant to indicate the school entity's anticipated use and certification by the applicant that the funds will be used for the stated purpose.(e) Deadlines for applications.--Each school entity must submit an application for grant funds no later than June 30, 2020.(f)Audit and monitoring.--The committee shall randomly audit and monitor grant recipients to ensure the appropriate use of grant funds and compliance with provisions of the grant program.(g) Definitions.--As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "COVID-19 disaster emergency." The disaster emergency as described in the proclamation of disaster emergency issued by the Governor on March 6, 2020, published at 50 Pa.B. 1644 (March 21, 2020), and any renewal of the state of disaster emergency.
"School entity." A school district, area career and technical school, intermediate unit, charter school, regional charter school and cyber charter school.
Added by P.L. TBD 2020 No. 30, § 10, eff. 6/5/2020.