SAINT PAUL – This afternoon, the Minnesota House of Representatives passed the COVID-19 Economic Security Act, which delivers much-needed relief to thousands of Minnesotans experiencing difficulties during the pandemic, including students who depend on broadband access to connect to their schools and teachers.
“We’ve underinvested in broadband over the past decade, and it’s unfortunate a pandemic has highlighted the deep inequities that exist with regard to internet access across our state,” said Rep. Julie Sandstede (DFL – Hibbing). “This bill won’t solve our entire problem, and I believe we will ultimately need to establish broadband service as a utility in our state. We can and should do better, and had these investments already been made, the funding in this bill could have gone towards another need, of which there are many. Still, these are important investments that will make a difference in student learning, help Minnesotans access telemedicine, and increase economic opportunity in Greater Minnesota.”
The legislation invests $15 million in a new Distance Learning Broadband Access Grant Program to provide students with the equipment necessary to access learning materials on the internet and reimburse school districts for costs to provide broadband access. It also invests $10 million in the state’s Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program to expand high-speed broadband, with the funding targeted to unserved areas. Finally, it invests $2 million in the new Telemedicine Equipment Reimbursement Grant Program to reimburse health care providers and counties that purchase and install telemedicine equipment to provide COVID-19-related health care services.
Minnesota’s personal care assistants (PCA) serve Minnesotans with disabilities, our seniors, and other vulnerable populations. The bill delivers a 15 percent temporary reimbursement rate increase for personal care assistance services during the COVID-19 pandemic and makes other program modifications to help ensure vulnerable Minnesotans get the care they need. In addition to the 15 percent rate increase, PCAs can now be paid for 310 hours of services per month, up from 275. The bill allows a parent or legal guardian of a minor PCA recipient, or a spouse of a PCA recipient, to earn wages for providing PCA services during the peacetime emergency.
The bill includes $100 million in assistance for Minnesota renters, homeowners, and landlords. In addition to support for rent and mortgages, qualified applicants can receive help paying utility bills and property taxes. The proposal has received broad support, ranging from the Homes for All Coalition, representing 250 Minnesota housing organizations, to the Minnesota Multi-Housing Association, which represents property management companies throughout the state.
Finally, the legislation appropriates $55 million to the Small Business Emergency Loan Program at the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), which was launched by Executive Order 20-15 from Gov. Walz on March 23. The program’s original $30 million has since been exhausted.
A nonpartisan summary of the legislation can be accessed here. The bill directs funding to come from the state’s $1.87 billion share of the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act if available.