1     
JOINT RESOLUTION APPROVING ACCEPTANCE OF

2     
FEDERAL FUNDS IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19

3     
2020 THIRD SPECIAL SESSION

4     
STATE OF UTAH

5     
Chief Sponsor: Jerry W. Stevenson

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House Sponsor: Bradley G. Last

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8     LONG TITLE
9     General Description:
10          This joint resolution of the Legislature approves acceptance by the state of Utah of
11     certain federal funds.
12     Highlighted Provisions:
13          This resolution:
14          ▸     approves acceptance by the state of Utah of all federal funds from:
15               •     Public Law 116-123, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental
16     Appropriations Act;
17               •     Public Law 116-127, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act; and
18               •     Public Law 116-136, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
19     Special Clauses:
20          None
21     

22     Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
23          WHEREAS, on March 6, 2020, Congress passed and the President signed Public Law
24     116-123, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act;
25          WHEREAS, on March 18, 2020, Congress passed and the President signed Public Law
26     116-127, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act;
27          WHEREAS, on March 27, 2020, Congress passed, and the President signed, Public

28     Law 116-136, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act");
29          WHEREAS, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations
30     Act provides funds to the states, primarily through the Centers for Disease Control and
31     Prevention, and reimburses states for certain expenditures related to efforts taken in response to
32     the spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 ("COVID-19");
33          WHEREAS, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides states and counties
34     with a temporary Federal Medical Assistance Percentage increase to support certain medical
35     and social service programs in the states, and provides funds to states for providing certain
36     unemployment benefits and other assistance programs;
37          WHEREAS, the CARES Act provides federal funds to aid individuals, businesses,
38     states, and local governments in responding to the pandemic caused by COVID-19 for the
39     following purposes, among others:
40               •     to offset certain necessary expenditures by states and revenue declines
41     suffered by the states due to COVID-19;
42               •     to expand unemployment benefits, access to unemployment benefits, and
43     eligibility for unemployment benefits;
44               •     to offer certain loan and loan guarantees to eligible states, municipalities,
45     and businesses in need;
46               •     to revitalize communities, respond to housing impacts, and expand
47     community health facilities, child care centers, food banks, and senior
48     services;
49               •     to assist state and local governments in responding to immediate needs
50     related to protecting citizens, assisting in community recovery, and
51     certain declared disasters;
52               •     to assist in certain emergency management efforts by state and local
53     governments;
54               •     to assist hospitals and other health-care institutions in:
55                    •     covering unreimbursed health-care related expenses and lost
56     revenue;
57                    •     procuring personal protective equipment and other medical
58     supplies;

59                    •     providing certain medical needs such as vaccines and
60     diagnostics; and
61                    •     making certain facility improvements;
62               •     to support certain state and local efforts related to public health
63     preparedness and response;
64               •     to support state child welfare services;
65               •     to support state education systems by providing proportionate funding
66     to:
67                    •     elementary and secondary education institutions for actions and
68     activities taken in response to COVID-19;
69                    •     each state's governor to allocate, at the governor's discretion, for
70     emergency support grants to the education institutions that are
71     most negatively impacted by COVID-19; and
72                    •     higher education institutions for emergency COVID-19
73     responses;
74               •     to assist certain public transit systems and airports; and
75               •     to assist states with preparing for and responding to the effects of
76     COVID-19 on the 2020 presidential election;
77          WHEREAS, COVID-19 has spread within the state and caused a significant disruption
78     to the economy, the health-care systems, and the education systems of the state;
79          WHEREAS, the state of Utah is to receive federal funds under the Coronavirus
80     Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act;
81          WHEREAS, the state of Utah is to receive a temporary Federal Medical Assistance
82     Percentage increase from the federal government under the Families First Coronavirus
83     Response Act;
84          WHEREAS, the state of Utah is to receive a population-based disbursement of federal
85     funds under the CARES Act;
86          WHEREAS, the state of Utah and Utah's citizens will significantly benefit from
87     acceptance of the funds provided by the federal government under the Coronavirus
88     Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, the Families First Coronavirus
89     Response Act, and the CARES Act; and

90          WHEREAS, Section 63J-5-204 of the Utah Code requires that the Legislature approve
91     a federal fund request within three months of the request if the request would "result in the
92     state receiving total payments of $10,000,000 or more per year from the federal government:
93          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah
94     approves acceptance by the state of Utah of any and all funds granted to the state of Utah from
95     Public Law 116-123, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental
96     Appropriations Act, Public Law 116-127, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, and
97     Public Law 116-136, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
98          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of the resolution be sent to Governor
99     Herbert and the members of Utah's Congressional delegation.