HF 32 (LSB 1293HH (7) 90)

HOUSE FILE 32

BY  ISENHART

A BILL FOR

An Act relating to outdoor education and recreation programs serving youth, and making appropriations.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  456A.39  No child left inside program —— fund created —— appropriation.
   1.  The director shall establish and administer a no child left inside program to provide grants for outdoor environmental, ecological, and other natural resource-based education and recreation programs serving youth.
   2.  The director may award grants under this section to accredited public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, or private nonprofit organizations.
   3.  a.  In awarding grants under this section, the director shall give preference to programs that satisfy the following priorities:
   (1)  Provides students with opportunities to directly experience and understand nature and the natural world.
   (2)  Uses a research-based, effective environmental, ecological, or other natural resource-based educational curriculum.
   (3)  Maximizes the number of participants that can be served.
   (4)  Serves children with limited opportunities to participate in natural resource-based outdoor activities.
   (5)  Uses public park and other natural resource venues and personnel as a resource.
   (6)  Commits to matching funds or in-kind resources.
   b.  In addition to considering the preferences in paragraph “a”, the director shall ensure that at least fifty percent of the moneys awarded under this section benefit students attending schools that qualify for funding under Tit. I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
   4.  a.  An outdoor education and recreation fund is established in the state treasury under the control of the department. The fund shall consist of moneys deposited in the fund from appropriations, gifts, grants, and other contributions. Moneys in the fund are appropriated to the department for the purpose of issuing grants as part of the no child left inside program. Notwithstanding section 8.33, moneys in the fund that remain unencumbered or unobligated at the close of a fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for expenditure for the purpose designated. Notwithstanding section 12C.7, subsection 2, interest or earnings on moneys in the fund shall be credited to the fund.
   b.  The fund may consist of moneys that are deposited in the fund prior to July 1, 2025, from moneys received by the state from the elementary and secondary school emergency relief fund created pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, Pub. L. No. 116-136, as amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 116-260, and from moneys received by the state under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2, unless the governor determines such deposit to be contrary to federal guidelines or regulations. Any moneys deposited pursuant to this paragraph shall be used for the purpose of issuing grants as part of the no child left inside program prior to using moneys deposited to the fund from the general fund.
   c.  For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and for each fiscal year thereafter, there is appropriated from the general fund of the state to the outdoor education and recreation fund established in paragraph “a” the sum of one million dollars. At least fifty percent of the moneys appropriated under this paragraph shall be used to provide grants to benefit students attending schools that qualify for funding under Tit. I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   This bill relates to outdoor education and recreation programs serving youth. The bill requires the director of the department of natural resources (DNR) to establish and administer a no child left inside program to provide grants for outdoor environmental, ecological, and other natural 
resource-based education and recreation programs serving youth. The director may award grants to accredited public school districts, accredited nonpublic schools, or private nonprofit organizations, with preference given to programs that satisfy certain priorities. The director shall also ensure that at least 50 percent of the moneys awarded benefit students attending schools that qualify for funding under Tit. I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
   The bill establishes an outdoor education and recreation fund in the state treasury under the control of DNR. The fund shall consist of moneys deposited in the fund from appropriations, gifts, grants, and other contributions, but may also consist of moneys that are deposited in the fund prior to July 1, 2025, from moneys received by the state from the elementary and secondary school emergency relief fund created pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and from moneys received by the state under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, unless the governor determines such deposit to be contrary to federal guidelines or regulations. Any moneys deposited from either federal source shall be used for the purpose of issuing grants as part of the no child left inside program prior to using moneys deposited to the fund from the general fund.
   For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, and each fiscal year thereafter, the bill makes an appropriation of $1 million from the general fund to the outdoor education and recreation fund. At least 50 percent of the moneys appropriated shall be used to provide grants to benefit students attending schools that qualify for funding under Tit. I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.