Senate Bill 3057

(As Passed the Senate)

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 4, CHAPTER 491, LAWS OF 2020 (HOUSE BILL NO. 1788), TO AUTHORIZE FUNDS APPROPRIATED AND GRANT MONIES DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE MISSISSIPPI PANDEMIC RESPONSE BROADBAND AVAILABILITY GRANT PROGRAM TO BE EXPENDED ON A LICENSE TO USE EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES FOR A PERIOD OF NO LONGER THAN ONE (1) YEAR AS NECESSARY TO FULFILL THE PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 4, Chapter 491, Laws of 2020 (House Bill No. 1788), is amended as follows:

Section 4. (1) The department shall distribute grant monies, without the requirement of application by school districts or schools, as equitably and efficiently as possible after determining the unserved areas of the state using the latest publicly available Federal Communications Commission broadband data, and after determining which and to what extent Mississippi public school districts, independent schools and Native American tribal school districts educate students living in such unserved areas of the state. The Mississippi Department of Education shall consult with the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools and the administrations of the Native American tribal school districts in determining which and to what extent such schools and * * * ~~schools~~ school districts educate students living in such unserved areas of the state. Any grant monies provided under this act shall be spent by the recipient school district no later than December 1, 2020, or by such later date as may be specified in the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established in Section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Grants shall be conditioned on the school district or school broadband provider agreements including that broadband capacity shall be expanded to a significant extent for the district's or school's students during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

(2) Funds appropriated and grant monies distributed under this program may be expended on a license to use equipment and services for a period of no longer than one (1) year as necessary to address the COVID-19 crisis and fulfill the purposes of this program.

( * * *23) The department may develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the program.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.