Accordingly, the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) COVID-19 Coverage Assistance Fund (CAF) will cover the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines to patients whose health insurance doesn't cover vaccine administration fees, or does but typically . 748 CARES ACT signed into Law Stimulus Checks - Economic Impact Payment Info Center - Check your eligibility plus more FAQ Yes, provided that the transferred funds are used by the local government for eligible expenditures under the statute. access for current print subscribers. Delivering assistance to workers and families, including aid to unemployed workers, as well as aid to households facing food, housing or financial insecurity. Supporting small businesses, helping them to address financial challenges caused by the pandemic, and to make investments in COVID-19 prevention and mitigation tactics. on If a government deposits Fund payments in a government's general account, it may use those funds to meet immediate cash management needs provided that the full amount of the payment is used to cover necessary expenditures. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), enacted on March 27, 2020, provided funding for emergency relief administered by eligible Indian Tribal Governments (Tribes) to provide payments for the benefit of tribal members and their families for necessary expenses resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Permissible uses include: The Treasury Department will also presume the following additional activities to address health disparities are eligible uses when provided by tribal governments: FRF may be used to provide premium pay to eligible workers of the tribal government that are performing essential work. A recipient would not be permitted to pay for payroll or benefit expenses of private employees and any financial assistance (such as grants or short-term loans) to private employers are not subject to the restriction that the private employers' employees must be substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. This prototype edition of the CARNEGIE The Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma has received official confirmation it will receive almost $51 million from the American Rescue Plan Act. Are States permitted to use Coronavirus Relief Fund payments to satisfy non-federal matching requirements under the Stafford Act, including lost wages assistance authorized by the Presidential Memorandum on Authorizing the Other Needs Assistance Program for Major Disaster Declarations Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (August 8, 2020)? For instance, in the case of a lease of equipment or other property, irrespective of when payment occurs, the cost of a lease payment shall be considered to have been incurred for the period of the lease that is within the covered period but not otherwise. Thus the cost of a good or service received during the covered period will not be considered eligible under section 601(d) if there is no need for receipt until after the covered period has expired. NEPA does not apply to Treasury's administration of the Fund. 01/14/2021 at 8:45 am. Do governments have to return unspent funds to Treasury? Low 44F. The Guidance states that the Fund may support a broad range of uses including payroll expenses for several classes of employees whose services are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. What are some examples of types of covered employees? 42 U.S.C. The remaining 35 percent ($6.65 billion) will be allocated pro rata based on each tribe's total government and business employees. Expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any federal program, such as the reimbursement by the federal government pursuant to the CARES Act of contributions by States to State unemployment funds. It is not designed to be, and should not be used as, the sole source of information when analyzing and resolving a legal problem, and it should not be substituted for legal advice, which relies on a specific factual analysis. Yes, such expenses would be eligible expenditures, subject to the limitations set forth in 2 CFR 200.425. 0 Reimbursement to donors for donated items or services. However, Fund payments may be used for the expenses of, for example, establishing temporary public medical facilities and other measures to increase Start Printed Page 4190COVID-19 treatment capacity or improve mitigation measures, including related construction costs. Expenses of establishing temporary public medical facilities and other measures to increase COVID-19 treatment capacity, including related construction costs. Similar to state and local governments, tribal governments are eligible for CRF funds . electronic version on GPOs govinfo.gov. These include: Although tribes have broad discretion within the above categories of infrastructure, the Treasury Department clarified in the Interim Final Rule that general infrastructure spending (roads, energy, etc.) 10. Are expenses associated with contact tracing eligible? has no substantive legal effect. 2021-00827 Filed 1-14-21; 8:45 am], updated on 4:15 PM on Friday, March 3, 2023, updated on 8:45 AM on Friday, March 3, 2023, 105 documents 748) with a Historic $10 Billion in Direct Funding for Tribal Nations. Both grants provide funding to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak and the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak. This table of contents is a navigational tool, processed from the FRF may be used to respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative economic impacts. No. Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Flooding (DR-4384) Incident Period: May 5, 2018 - May 28, 2018 Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 17, 2018 The permissible uses are also subject to modification, as the Treasury Department may modify the Interim Final Rule and Frequently Asked Questions. In determining the business' eligibility for the grant, the recipient should not rely on self-certifications provided to the SBA. Fund payments may be used for economic support in the absence of a stay-at-home order if such expenditures are determined by the government to be necessary. This means that, if this presumption applies, work performed by such employees is considered to be a substantially different use than accounted for in the most recently approved budget as of March 27, 2020. 1. Please note: This alert was updated with deadline extensions from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. 7501-7507) and the related provisions of the Uniform Guidance, 2 CFR 200.303 regarding internal controls, 200.330 through 200.332 regarding subrecipient monitoring and management, and subpart F regarding audit requirements. On March 18, 2020, the Government of Canada announced $305 million for a new, distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund (ICSF) through its COVID-19 Economic Response Plan to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit and Mtis communities. The Colville Business Council took swift action to mandate the vaccine this spring, when they passed a resolution that allowed only for medical exemptions. The interim report will include a summary of the tribal government's expenditures by category from date FRF is received to July 31, 2021. staff at nursing homes, hospitals and home-care settings, childcare workers, educators and school staff. Additionally, the cost of goods purchased in bulk and delivered during the covered period may be covered using payments from the Fund if a portion of the goods is ordered for use in the covered period, the bulk purchase is consistent with the recipient's usual procurement policies and practices, and it is impractical to track and record when the items were used. However, subrecipients would not include individuals and organizations (e.g., businesses, non-profits, or educational institutions) that are beneficiaries of an assistance program established using payments from the Fund. informational resource until the Administrative Committee of the Federal The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation is operating its CCDF program under a P.L. The CARES Act provides that payments from the Fund may only be used to cover costs that. 03/03/2023, 266 Expenses for care for homeless populations provided to mitigate COVID-19 effects and enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions. These classes of employees include public safety, public health, health care, human services, and similar employees whose services are substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. May Fund payments be used for expenditures related to the administration of Fund payments by a State, territorial, local, or Tribal government? daily Federal Register on FederalRegister.gov will remain an unofficial 10. If the business has received a loan from the SBA that may be forgiven, the recipient should assume for purposes of determining the business' need that the loan will be forgiven. Until the ACFR grants it official status, the XML The payments constitute other financial assistance under 2 CFR 200.40. 5423 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<5F689BCC1EF8244F90DAC385661FF4B0><9322B044ED388A4896D8D2CCA536C7F2>]/Index[5401 34]/Info 5400 0 R/Length 109/Prev 351616/Root 5402 0 R/Size 5435/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream Fund payments are not subject to the Cash Management Improvement Act of 1990, as amended. Check receipts (not preferred)Checks may be sent to one of the following addresses (depending on the method of delivery). Please see the document below,[NEW] CRF Guidance Revision Regarding Cost Incurred (12/14/2021), for additional details and Coronavirus Relief Fund Tribal Extension Notice. Territories (consisting of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); and Tribal governments. 553(a). You have permission to edit this article. However, as noted below, recipients may not use payments from the Fund to cover expenditures for which they will receive reimbursement. In addition, expenses that have been or will be reimbursed under any federal program, such as the reimbursement by the federal government pursuant to the CARES Act of contributions by States to State unemployment funds, are not eligible uses of Fund payments. Would such expenditures be eligible in the absence of a stay-at-home order? Figure 5 shows our estimate of federal COVID-19-related funding that tribal governments will use for the administration of programs and to provide services. 1302(a). We are working alongside our partners at the local, state and national levels to actively provide updates and information for Chickasaws, employees, the public . As discussed above, governments may allocate payroll and benefits of such employees with respect to time worked on COVID-19-related matters. Enhanced Federal Match for Medicaid Programs. These provisions do not prohibit the expenditure by a State, locality, entity, or private person of State, local, or private funds (other than a State's or locality's contribution of Medicaid matching funds). establishing the XML-based Federal Register as an ACFR-sanctioned The Single Audit Act and 2 CFR part 200, subpart F regarding audit requirements do not apply to beneficiaries. The Single Audit Act and 2 CFR part 200, subpart F regarding audit requirements apply to any non-federal entity, as defined in 2 CFR 200.69, that receives payments from the Fund in the amount of $750,000 or more. on In the context of acquisitions of real estate and acquisitions of equipment, this means that the acquisition itself must be necessary. Treasury's Office of Inspector General (OIG) will use this guidance in its audits of recipients' use of funds. documents in the last year, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Emergency medical response expenses, including emergency medical transportation, related to COVID-19. These tools are designed to help you understand the official document Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. On October 19, 2020, Questions A.57-59 and B.13 were added and Questions A.42, 49, and 53 were revised. Unemployment insurance costs related to the COVID-19 public health emergency if such costs will not be reimbursed by the federal government pursuant to the CARES Act or otherwise. A few highlights of what's included in the package: Creates a $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund for state, local and tribal governments. 56. To be eligible for the General Distributions, a provider must have billed Medicare fee-for-service in 2019, be a known Medicaid and CHIP or dental provider and provide or provided after January 31, 2020 diagnoses, testing, or care for individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID-19. Attorney Advertising. Yes, fund recipients may use payments from the Fund to upgrade public health infrastructure, such as providing individuals and families access to running water to help reduce the further spread of the virus. 2. For example, a State may spend Fund payments to create a reserve of personal protective equipment or develop increased intensive care unit capacity to support regions in its jurisdiction not yet affected, but likely to be impacted by the current COVID-19 pandemic. . that agencies use to create their documents. County Board Meetings May Fund payments be used to cover such an employee's entire payroll cost or just the portion of time spent on mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency? As of June 17, 2020, all payments based on employment and expenditure data, other than payment of amounts allocated to Alaska Native corporations, have been made. Fund payments may not be used for expenses that have been or will be reimbursed by another federal program (including, for example, the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund administered by the Department of Education). 20. How does a government address the requirement that the allowable expenditures are not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020, once the government enters its new budget year on July 1, 2020 (for governments with June 30 fiscal year ends) or October 1, 2020 (for governments with September 30 year ends)? Quarterly reports will include financial data, information on contacts and sub-awards more than $50,000, the types of projects funded and other information regarding utilization of FRF. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe is planning how to use the expected funds. Use the 'Report' link on May recipients provide stipends to employees for eligible expenses (for example, a stipend to employees to improve telework capabilities) rather than require employees to incur the eligible cost and submit for reimbursement? The Treasury Inspector General could perform audits and retains the right to recoup FRF that is unspent or improperly used. A cost meets this requirement if either (a) the cost cannot lawfully be funded using a line item, allotment, or allocation within that budget or (b) the cost is for a substantially different use from any expected use of funds in such a line item, allotment, or allocation. Adult Tribal Members are eligible for up to $4,000, and minor Tribal Members are eligible for up to $750 payable to the parent or legal guardian for household expenses. Register, and does not replace the official print version or the official Expenses of actions to facilitate compliance with COVID-19-related public health measures, such as: 5. Counts are subject to sampling, reprocessing and revision (up or down) throughout the day. Do not send any privileged or confidential information to the firm through this website. 289g(b)). on FederalRegister.gov 5. Expenses associated with the provision of economic support in connection with the COVID-19 public health emergency, such as: 6. Yes, payments from the Fund may be used to meet the non-federal matching requirements for Stafford Act assistance, including FEMA's Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) and EMPG Supplemental programs, to the extent such matching requirements entail COVID-19-related costs that otherwise satisfy the Fund's eligibility criteria and the Stafford Act. As previously stated in FAQ B.11, recipients are permitted to use payments from the Fund to cover the expenses of an audit conducted under the Single Audit Act, subject to the limitations set forth in 2 CFR 200.425. No. Colville Tribe member Michelle Thomas, left, receives a Covid screening from Medical Support Assistant Deb Stanczak before Thomas received her second dose of the Covid 19 vaccine on Wednesday . The prohibition on payment for abortions and health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion does not apply to an abortion if the pregnancy is the result of an act of rape or incest; or in the case where a woman suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, that would, as certified by a physician, place the woman in danger of death unless an abortion is performed. Section 601(f)(2) of the Social Security Act provides that if the Treasury OIG determines that a recipient of payments from the Fund has failed to comply with the use of funds provisions of section 601(d), the amount equal to the amount of funds used in violation of such subsection shall be booked as a debt of such entity owed to the federal government. As with any other costs to be covered using payments from the Fund, any such administrative costs must be incurred by December 31, 2021, with an exception for certain compliance costs as discussed below. Similarly, in recognition of the likelihood of supply chain disruptions and increased demand for certain goods and services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, if a recipient enters into a contract requiring the delivery of goods or performance of services by December 31, 2021, the failure of a vendor to complete delivery or services by December 31, 2021, will not affect the ability of the recipient to use payments from the Fund to cover the cost of such goods or services if the delay is due to circumstances beyond the recipient's control. At stake is about $500 million. The President of the United States manages the operations of the Executive branch of Government through Executive orders. documents in the last year, 940 Third COVID-19 Relief Bill Becomes Law (H.R. Overview. Payments to tribal governments were determined by the Secretary of the Treasury in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. Avery Street A3-G, Bureau of the Fiscal Service, P.O. Yes, to the extent that the restrictions facilitate the State's compliance with the requirements set forth in section 601(d) of the Social Security Act outlined in the Guidance and other applicable requirements such as the Single Audit Act, discussed below. May payments from the Fund be used for real property acquisition and improvements and to purchase equipment to address the COVID-19 public health emergency? This guidance primarily concerns the use of payments from the Fund set forth in section 601(d) of the Social Security Act. the current document as it appeared on Public Inspection on Exact payments to individual tribes were allocated out of that fund by the United States Department of the Treasury. Federal Register. The following is a list of examples of costs that would not be eligible expenditures of payments from the Fund. For example, a transfer from a county to a constituent city would not be permissible if the funds were intended to be used simply to fill shortfalls in government revenue to cover expenditures that would not otherwise qualify as an eligible expenditure. For example, a State may expend Fund payments on necessary administrative expenses incurred with respect to a new grant program established to disburse amounts received from the Fund. [FR Doc. 2. Fiscal Accounting Program, Admin & Training Group. The State should distribute 45 percent of the $1 billion it received, or $450 million, to local governments within the State with a population of 500,000 or less. The amount of a grant to a small business to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by required closures would also be an eligible expenditure under section 601(d) of the Social Security Act, as outlined in the Guidance. Document Drafting Handbook For example, a county may transfer funds to a city, town, or school district within the county and a county or city may transfer funds to its State, provided that the transfer qualifies as a necessary expenditure incurred due to the public health emergency and meets the other criteria of section 601(d) of the Social Security Act outlined in the Guidance. May recipients deposit Fund payments into interest bearing accounts? Investments in improvements to water and sewer infrastructure, including projects that address the impacts of climate change. 05.11.20 Lankford Announces Continued Financial Support for Oklahoma Tribes Amid COVID-19 Pandemic. 2. Is a Fund payment recipient required to transfer funds to a smaller, constituent unit of government within its borders? Read more on the law and tribal-specific provisions: H.R. person will not be tolerated. Are Fund payments subject to other requirements of the Uniform Guidance? For example, a State received the minimum $1.25 billion allocation and had one county with a population over 500,000 that received $250 million directly. Are governments required to submit proposed expenditures to Treasury for approval? Coronavirus Relief Fund Through the Coronavirus Relief Fund, the CARES Act provides for payments to State, Local, and Tribal governments navigating the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak. Permissible uses include: Delivering assistance to workers and families, including aid to unemployed workers, as well as aid to households facing food, housing or financial insecurity. In general, no. The guidance published below is unchanged from the last version of the guidance dated September 2, 2020,[1] 3. Remaining quarterly reports will cover one calendar quarter and must be submitted 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. This page is for eligible state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments that are requesting Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. One year later, American Rescue Plan Act funds allocated $31 billion for infrastructure needs and other federal programs for . executive order. 47. Tenants who receive public assistance or are very low income - $25,760 annual income for an individual or $53,000 for a family of four - can access a lawyer for free during eviction proceedings. Yes, if the loans otherwise qualify as eligible expenditures under section 601(d) of the Social Security Act as implemented by the Guidance. Information contained in this alert is for the general education and knowledge of our readers. The American Rescue Plan provides that FRF must be used for the following costs incurred by Dec. 31, 2024: On May 10, 2021, The Treasury Department issued several documents related to the implementation and administration of FRF. The Guidance provides that expenses associated with the provision of economic support in connection with the public health emergency, such as expenditures related to the provision of grants to small businesses to reimburse the costs of business interruption caused by required closures, would constitute eligible expenditures of Fund payments. The funding supports states, tribes, and territories with coastal and marine fishery . If the responsible government official determines that expenses incurred to refund eligible higher education expenses are necessary and would be incurred due to the public health emergency, then such expenses would be eligible as long as the expenses satisfy the other criteria set forth in section 601(d) of the Social Security Act. The assistance provided from the Fund would need to satisfy all of the other requirements set forth in section 601(d) of the Social Security Act as discussed in Treasury's guidance and FAQs, and the business would need to comply with all applicable requirements of the PPP or EIDL program. This particular nonexclusive example of an ineligible expenditure relates to public employees. to the courts under 44 U.S.C. Treasury has provided examples as to what would constitute a substantially different use. Public universities have incurred expenses associated with providing refunds to students for education-related expenses, including tuition, room and board, meal plans, and other fees (such as activities fees). A Notice by the Treasury Department on 01/15/2021. 9. Fund payments may not be used for government revenue replacement, including the provision of assistance to meet tax obligations. Regardless of the use of Fund payments for such purposes, FEMA funding is still dependent on FEMA's determination of eligibility under the Stafford Act. The Guidance provides that ineligible expenditures include [p]ayroll or benefits expenses for employees whose work duties are not substantially dedicated to mitigating or responding to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Is this intended to relate only to public employees? The introduction of the guidance and frequently asked questions have been modified to reflect this publication in the Federal Register; the guidance and frequently asked questions have been revised throughout to reflect that the end date of the period during which eligible expenses may be incurred has been extended to December 31, 2021;[3] Yes, expenses associated with contact tracing are eligible.Start Printed Page 4189. Furthermore, in all cases it must be necessary that performance or delivery take place during the covered period. executive order no. Open for Comment, Russian Harmful Foreign Activities Sanctions, Economic Sanctions & Foreign Assets Control, Fisheries of the Northeastern United States, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, Coronavirus Relief Fund Guidance for State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Governments, Necessary Expenditures Incurred Due to the Public Health Emergency, Costs Not Accounted for in the Budget Most Recently Approved as of March 27, 2020, Costs Incurred During the Period That Begins on March 1, 2020, and Ends on December 31, 2021, Nonexclusive Examples of Eligible Expenditures, Nonexclusive Examples of Ineligible Expenditures, Supplemental Guidance on Use of Funds To Cover Payroll and Benefits of Public Employees, Supplemental Guidance on Use of Funds To Cover Administrative Costs, Instructions for State, Territorial, Local, and Tribal Governments To Return Unused Coronavirus Relief Fund Payments to the Department of the Treasury. for 30 days, Free Blog; Press Room; Subscribe for Updates; About Us. In addition, guardians or payees . The Treasury Department's guidance provides tribal governments broad discretion in spending FRF and recognizes the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on tribes. As such, unless the government were to determine that providing assistance in the form of a stipend is an administrative necessity, the government should provide such assistance on a reimbursement basis to ensure as much as possible that funds are used to cover only eligible expenses. COVID-19 relief options Notice: We are unable to accept new applications for COVID-19 relief loans or grants. The Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply to a rulemaking when a general notice of proposed rulemaking is not required. The CFDA number assigned to the Fund is 21.019. Data Sovereignty. These are Covid-19@oneidanation.org and (920) 869-4481. In recognition of the particular importance of public health and public safety workers to State, local, and tribal government responses to the public health emergency, Treasury has provided, as an administrative accommodation, that a State, local, or tribal government may presume that public health and public safety employees meet the substantially dedicated test, unless the chief executive (or equivalent) of the relevant government determines that specific circumstances indicate otherwise. On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was passed by Congress and signed into law. Any such use must be consistent with the requirements of section 601(d) of the Social Security Act as added by the CARES Act. Expenses for technical assistance to local authorities or other entities on mitigation of COVID-19-related threats to public health and safety.