HB 265 Summary

• Appropriates $63.2 million in grants-in-aid for fiscal year 2022, distributed across government units ($27.6M), community agencies ($28.2M), fire companies ($7.1M), and veterans organizations ($431K).

• Establishes eligibility criteria for grant recipients including incorporation as non-profit, active board governance, non-discrimination practices, annual audits, and application deadlines of December 1, 2021 for most agencies and March 4, 2022 for senior centers.

• Prohibits grant fund use for child daycare, capital equipment, building purchases, elected officials' salaries, political campaigns, lobbying, and services benefiting non-Delaware residents.

• Requires quarterly payment of grants in July, October, January, and April, with authority to withhold payments for non-compliance, unpaid taxes, or misuse of funds.

• Amends fiscal year 2022 appropriations to establish education equity programs including the Redding Consortium initiative ($2.3M for early childhood services) and Delaware Wraparound Services Initiative ($4.5M for before/after-school and health services at elementary schools).