S.F. No. 9 Summary

• Establishes a distance learning broadband access grant program administered by the Department of Education with $15,000,000 in coronavirus relief federal funds to provide wireless or wire-line broadband access to students lacking internet for distance learning during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years.

• Creates a telemedicine equipment reimbursement grant program administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development with $2,000,000 in coronavirus relief federal funds to reimburse eligible health care providers for purchasing and installing telemedicine equipment to provide services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Establishes a supplemental broadband development program with $10,000,000 in coronavirus relief federal funds to acquire and install middle-mile and last-mile broadband infrastructure supporting speeds of at least 100 megabits per second download and upload in unserved areas for distance learning, telemedicine, business operations, and telecommuting.

• Grants may fund no more than 75 percent of project costs, with individual project grants capped at $500,000, and all appropriations are one-time with unspent funds canceled by December 15, 2020.

• Requires reports to the legislature by January 15-31, 2021, detailing grant recipients, amounts awarded, administration costs, and program outcomes for each initiative.