Idaho Bills

Adds to existing law to provide that ARPA moneys are cognizable and to create governing principles and funds for their expenditure.

This legislation addresses the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) in four ways. First, Section 1 declares cognizable any funding from the ARPA that is, or will be, directed to any Idaho state agency and sets aside the noncognizable provisions of Section 67-3516(2), Idaho Code. As a result, these federal funds will not be able to be approved for expenditure by the Division of Financial Management and the Board of Examiners and would require legislative appropriation for expenditure. Second, and within Section 1, there is legislative intent that provides guiding principles on the appropriation and expenditure of ARPA funds. Third, Sections 2 and 3 create two funds from which to appropriate and expend ARPA funding. One fund is to account for receipts and disbursements of ARPA funding and the other is to be used for cost recovery or reimbursementoffunds. Expenditurefromthesefundswillbebyappropriationonlyandwillallowfortracking of these ARPA funds separately from other federal funding and previous COVID-19 federal funding, such as from the CARES Act. Lastly, Section 4 provides an emergency clause that will make this act in full force and effect upon passage and approval.