SENATE BILL 10

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first special session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Michael Padilla

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC FINANCE; TRANSFERRING FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT FUNDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO PROVIDE MATCHING GRANT FUNDING TO TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS, SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OF THE STATE FOR EXPANSION OF HIGH-SPEED INTERNET CAPABILITIES IN UNDERSERVED AREAS FOR DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE SERVICES; PROVIDING A PROCESS FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS; MAKING AN APPROPRIATION; DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY PROVISION--TRANSFER OF FEDERAL CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT FUNDING TO DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY--GRANT APPLICATIONS--HIGH-SPEED INTERNET PROJECTS.--

          A. Twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) of the money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 2020 fund that is administered by the department of finance and administration shall be transferred to the department of information technology for expenditure in fiscal years 2021 through 2023 to provide grants pursuant to this section for the expansion of high-speed internet capability for distance learning and telemedicine services in underserved areas. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2023 shall revert to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act 2020 fund administered by the department of finance and administration.

          B. A public school district, public institution of higher learning, tribal government, municipality, county or hospital district may apply to the department of information technology for grant funding for the expansion of high-speed internet capabilities, including the planning, design and engineering of required infrastructure, for distance learning or telemedicine services within its jurisdiction or service area; provided that:

                (1) the expanded internet capabilities are within an area that either does not currently have internet service or does not have access to internet speeds that meet the latest federal communications commission guidelines for students, video conferencing or streaming standard definition video; and

                (2) the recipient demonstrates to the department of information technology that at least fifty percent of the funding for the expanded internet capabilities will come from sources other than federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding.

          C. No individual grant awarded pursuant to Subsection B of this section shall exceed two million dollars ($2,000,000); however, an entity may apply for separate grants for different internet capability projects that serve different geographic areas or distinct populations.

          D. The department of information technology shall determine by rule the procedures for applications and grant agreements for funding pursuant to this 2020 act.

     SECTION 2. EMERGENCY.--It is necessary for the public peace, health and safety that this act take effect immediately.

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