House Bill 196 Summary

• Appropriates federal COVID-19 relief funds from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, including $1.6 billion for Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief II (ESSER II), $94.8 million for vaccine preparedness, and $546.6 million for emergency rental assistance distributed to all North Carolina counties.

• Allocates $126.2 million in ESSER II funds for K-12 school initiatives including $12 million for teacher literacy training, $15 million for extended learning programs for at-risk students, $10 million for student mental and physical health support services, and $40 million for summer learning programs.

• Extends temporary pandemic relief provisions through December 31, 2021 or later, including waived interest on UNC student accounts, remote notarization authority, pharmacy administering of long-acting injectables, and temporary leave flexibility for UNC employees.

• Allows tourism development authorities in counties and municipalities to access Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and establishes grant programs for emergency rental assistance, farm worker quarantine reimbursement, and meat and seafood processing facility expansion.

• Reallocates Coronavirus Relief Funds to increase support for broadband infrastructure ($45 million), meat processing facilities ($26.3 million), and reduces Federal Emergency Management Agency match requirements for public assistance.