Section 13-1313-B - COVID-19 disaster emergency targeted health and safety grants for 2020-2021 school year.(a) Funding.--For the 2020-2021 school year, the amount of money allocated from the fund under 1306-B(h)(8)(ii) shall be used by the committee to award COVID-19 disaster emergency targeted health and safety grants to intermediate units on behalf of nonpublic schools.(b)Purpose of targeted grants.--Targeted grant awards shall be made by the committee to intermediate units on behalf of nonpublic schools to fund the following programs, items or services which address the COVID-19 disaster emergency: (1) Purchasing of cleaning and sanitizing products that meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the 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 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) Targeted grant application process.-- (1) The committee shall develop and make available an application for intermediate units to apply for targeted grants on behalf of nonpublic schools by June 20, 2020.(2) The committee shall notify intermediate units and nonpublic schools of the availability of grants under this program, including the deadlines for application.(3) An intermediate unit may apply for targeted grants upon the request of a nonpublic school or combination of nonpublic schools located within the intermediate unit.(4) The application shall include the following information:(i) Contact information for the intermediate unit and the nonpublic school;(ii) The specific purpose for which the targeted grant shall be utilized based upon the categories in subsection (b);(iii) Certification by the applicant that the funds will be used for the state purpose; and(iv) Any other information required by the committee.(d) Targeted grant allocation.-- (1) Targeted grants shall be allocated through a grant review process established by the committee.(2) The targeted grant awards shall be geographically dispersed.(3) No intermediate unit on behalf of a nonpublic school shall be awarded a targeted grant that exceeds $10,000. For targeted grant applications made by an intermediate unit on behalf of a combination of nonpublic schools, the targeted grant shall not exceed the value of the number of schools for which the intermediate unit is making the combined application multiplied by $10,000.(e) Deadline for applications and awards.-- (1) Intermediate units must submit applications on behalf of a nonpublic school or combination of nonpublic schools no later than July 8, 2020.(2) The committee shall award targeted grants by August, 1, 2020.(f)Audit and monitoring.--The committee shall randomly audit and monitor targeted grant recipients to ensure the appropriate use of the targeted grant money and compliance with provisions of the program applicable to targeted grants.(g) Limitations.--In carrying out the duties of this section, the intermediate unit may not use more than 2% of the money the intermediate unit receives under this section for targeted grant administration.(h) 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.
Added by P.L. TBD 2020 No. 30, § 10, eff. 6/5/2020.