H.F. No. 14 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 during the COVID-19 peacetime public health emergency for school years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

• Creates a Telemedicine Equipment Reimbursement Grant Program administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development to reimburse eligible health care providers (community health clinics, critical access hospitals, local public health departments, physician practices, and nursing facilities) for purchasing telemedicine equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Establishes a Supplemental Broadband Development Program to fund middle-mile and last-mile broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved areas to support distance learning, telemedicine, business operations, and telecommuting during COVID-19.

• Appropriates $15,000,000 for distance learning grants, $2,000,000 for telemedicine equipment grants, and $10,000,000 for broadband development grants from the coronavirus relief federal fund in fiscal year 2021, with all funds to be expended or canceled by April 15, 2021.

• Requires reporting to the legislature by May 15, 2021, on grant recipients, amounts awarded, administration costs, and funds canceled under each program.