WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE

2023 REGULAR SESSION

Introduced

House Bill 3545

By Delegates Pushkin, Rowe, and Walker

[Introduced February 14, 2023; Referred to the Committee on Finance]

A BILL expiring funds to the balance of the Treasurer’s Office– American Rescue Plan Low-income Assistance Program, Fund 0126, Fiscal year 2023, organization 1300, in the amount of $300 million, from the Executive, Governor's Office, Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, Fund 8823, Fiscal year 2023, organization 0100, by supplementing and amending the appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023.

Whereas, The Governor finds the account balance in the Executive, Governor’s Office, Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, fund 8823, organization 0100 exceeds that which is necessary for the purposes for which the account was established; therefore

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

(a)That the total appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, to fund 0126, be supplemented and amended by adding a line of new appropriation as follows:

1. Treasurer’s Office

(WV Code Chapter 12)

Fund 0126 FY 2023 Org 1300

8 American Rescue Plan Low-income Assistance Program

(For disbursement as provided in subsection (b)) ………………………… $300,000,000.

(b) The appropriation of subsection (a) of this section are to be distributed among county commissions together with the Class IV municipalities in their counties, and Class I, Class II, and Class III municipalities. The State Treasurer shall allocate moneys to county commissions and municipalities based on the percentage share of families and individuals living below the federal poverty level in each respective jurisdiction as a proportional share of all persons living below the federal poverty line statewide.   All funds allocated under this Act must be used by the recipient jurisdiction in compliance with ARPA Enumerated Use Expenditure Categories as set forth in Appendix 1 of U.S. Department of Treasury "Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: Compliance and Reporting Guidance;" and further at least 50 percent of the funds shall be used by each jurisdiction for purposes consistent with ARPA Enumerated Use Expenditure Categories 2.1 through 2.37 as set forth in Appendix 1 of U.S. Department of Treasury "Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds: Compliance and Reporting Guidance." Jurisdictions are encouraged to use the funds allocated under this Article for a program, service, capital expenditure, or other assistance that is provided to a disproportionately impacted household, population or community for:

(1) Assistance to households and individuals, including:

(A) Assistance for home repairs, or weatherization; internet access or digital literacy;

(B) Paid sick, medical, or family leave programs, or assistance to expand access to health insurance;

(C) Childcare, early learning services, home visiting, or assistance for child welfare-involved families or foster youth;

(D) Programs to address the impacts of lost instructional time for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade;

(E) Development, repair, and operation of affordable housing and services or programs to increase long term housing security;

(F) Financial services that facilitate the delivery of Federal, State, or local benefits for unbanked and underbanked individuals;

(G) Assistance for individuals who want and are available for work, including those who are unemployed, have looked for work sometime in the past 12 months, who are employed part time but who want and are available for full-time work, or who are employed but seeking a position with greater opportunities for economic advancement;

(H) Facilities and equipment related to the provision of services to households provided in the preceding subparagraphs;

(I) A program, service, capital expenditure, or other assistance that is provided to a disproportionately impacted household, population, or community as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 35, including:

(i) Services to address health disparities of the disproportionately impacted household, population, or community;

(ii) Housing vouchers and relocation assistance;

(iii) Investments in communities to promote improved health outcomes and public safety such as parks, recreation facilities, and programs that increase access to healthy foods;

(iv) Capital expenditures and other services to address vacant or abandoned properties;

(v) Services to address educational disparities; and

(vi) Facilities and equipment related to the provision of these services to the disproportionately impacted household, population, or community, as defined in 31 C.F.R. Part 35.

(2) Uses to accomplish the objectives of the "Neighborhood Housing and Economic Development Stabilization Program" previously authorized in §31-15-6c of this code. Recipient jurisdictions are authorized to contract with the Housing Development Fund to administer the Neighborhood Housing and Economic Stabilization Program; or

(3) Uses to establish within the recipient jurisdiction a "Community-Based Pilot Demonstration Project to Improve Outcomes for At-Risk Youth" consistent with the conditions previously authorized at Sections §18-21-1 et seq. of this code, for the purposes and goals set forth in §18-21-4 of this code. The pilot project shall be housed within the community and will be directed by a local community-based nonprofit organization, operating in collaboration with the State School Superintendent, county school superintendent, Executive Director of the State Workforce Investment Division, Executive Director of WV Vocational Rehabilitation Services, the local juvenile court system, or such other officials as the recipient jurisdiction may deem appropriate.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to make a supplemental appropriation of federal funds to the State Treasurer to be distributed to local governmental units for the purposes of assisting low-income residents for purposes advanced by and enumerated within the federally enacted American Rescue Plan.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.