Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that appropriates $100 million in federal COVID-19 aid to Wisconsin schools for mental health programs.

Highlights:

• Establishes “coronavirus relief funds” to mean all moneys received by this state from the federal government in connection with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, including all moneys received under the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Act of 2020; the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020; the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020; the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act of 2020; the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Sec. 1).

• Establishes “state agency" to mean an association, authority, board, department, commission, independent agency, institution, office, society, or other body in state government created or authorized to be created by the constitution or any law (Sec. 1)

• Requires the governor to allocate at least $100 million to the department of public instruction for grants to school districts, charter schools, and private schools for mental health programs. 

• Requires each state agency that submits a status update or compliance or other report to the federal government concerning the state agency's expenditure of coronavirus relief funds shall immediately, upon that submission, do the following (Sec. 1):

• Submit a copy of the status update or report to the joint committee on finance; and

• Post a copy of the status update or report on the state agency's Internet site in such a manner as to make the status update or report readily accessible to the citizens of this state.

• Requires the governor and the department to submit a report, before awarding a grant, to the joint committee on finance regarding all of the following information (Sec. 2):

• The total amount of coronavirus relief funds received by the department, school districts, charter schools, and private schools, including a breakdown of the amount received by each school district, charter school and private school; and

• A description regarding how the money described was spent; and

• The total amount of money described that remains unspent.

• Requires the department of public instruction to post a copy of the report submitted on the department's Internet site in such a manner as to make the report readily accessible to the citizens of this state (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text