S.F. No. 4494 Summary

• Establishes a distance learning broadband access grant program in the Department of Education to provide wireless or wire-line broadband equipment and access to students lacking internet connectivity during the COVID-19 peacetime public health emergency, with grants available to Minnesota school districts and charter schools.

• Establishes a telemedicine equipment reimbursement grant program in the Department of Employment and Economic Development to reimburse eligible health care providers (community health clinics, critical access hospitals, local public health departments, county boards, physician practices, and nursing facilities) for purchasing and installing telemedicine equipment to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Appropriates $8,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 for distance learning broadband access grants, with funds canceled if unspent by September 30, 2020, and requires the commissioner of education to report by December 1, 2020 on grants awarded and administration costs.

• Appropriates $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2020 for telemedicine equipment grants, with funds canceled if unspent by September 30, 2020, and requires the commissioner of employment and economic development to report by December 31, 2020 on applications, grants awarded, and grant amounts.

• Appropriates $10,000,000 in fiscal year 2021 for the border-to-border broadband fund to provide broadband service in unserved areas, contingent on commissioner of management and budget approval as eligible use of federal coronavirus relief account funds.