S.F. No. 8 Summary

• Establishes a Distance Learning Broadband Access Grant Program in the Department of Education with $15,000,000 to provide wireless or wire-line broadband equipment and internet access to students lacking connectivity for distance learning during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years.

• Creates a Telemedicine Equipment Reimbursement Grant Program with $2,000,000 administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development to reimburse eligible health care providers including community health clinics, critical access hospitals, and nursing facilities for purchasing telemedicine equipment to deliver COVID-19 pandemic services.

• Establishes a Supplemental Broadband Development Program with $10,000,000 for infrastructure grants in unserved and underserved areas to support student distance learning, expanded telemedicine services, business continuity, and telecommuting during the COVID-19 emergency, with grants capped at 75 percent of project costs and $500,000 per project.

• Requires reporting by January 15, 2021 (January 31 for broadband program) to the legislature detailing grant recipients, amounts awarded, administrative costs, and unexpended funds for each program.

• All appropriations are one-time COVID-19 relief federal funds subject to Commissioner of Management and Budget approval and must remain unexpended by December 15, 2020.