The bill creates the remote instruction family stipend program (program) within the department of revenue (department). The program provides stipends to the parents of students who participate in remote instruction as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The parent must use the stipend to cover education-related expenses for the student, which may include child care. The bill establishes eligibility criteria for receiving a stipend and requires an applicant to submit a sworn affidavit attesting that the applicant meets the criteria and describing the education-related expenses for which the applicant expects to use the stipend. The department must pay a stipend to each applicant, subject to available appropriations. The bill specifies the amount of the stipend. Each parent who receives a stipend must retain for one year the receipts for the services and items that the parent purchases using the stipend. The department must conduct a representative sample audit of the stipend recipients to confirm eligibility and the use of the stipends. The department must bring legal action to recover any amount that is illegally distributed or used for an illegal purpose. The program is repealed, effective July 1, 2023. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill provides noncompetitive grants to school districts and boards of cooperative services that include rural school districts (local education providers) to retain a licensed physician to provide medical assessments and advice and to act as a liaison between the local education provider and state and local public health agencies with regard to implementing health protocols and requirements pertaining to COVID-19, with the goal of stabilizing the learning environment and advocating for the interests of the local education provider and its students and their families. The department of education (department) shall allocate grants in the order requests are received, so long as there are available appropriations; except that the department may prioritize the award of grants to local education providers located in counties that are experiencing high or rising levels of COVID-19 or that are managing significant or complex exposure and quarantine protocols for students or staff. The term of the physician contracts must not exceed 30 days following the expiration of the governor's executive orders and any school-related public health agency order or protocols related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The department may award grants of up to $50,000 per local education provider or group of providers, up to a cap of one million dollars. The bill gives the commissioner of education discretion, as specified in the bill, relating to the award of grants. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill permits the majority of the board of county commissioners of any county (board), by adoption of a resolution, to reject all or any portion of a disaster emergency order applying to the county that has been issued by the governor under the governor's emergency management powers. Upon the enactment by the board of such a resolution, the order that is the subject of the resolution, or any portion of the order that is discussed in the resolution, has no legal force and effect within the unincorporated portions of the county. The bill requires the board to notify the governor and any affected state agencies of the adoption of such resolution. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill limits the power of the governor and other state and local officials with respect to emergency orders, decrees, regulations, or other mandates (emergency orders) that bind or regulate the public by: Requiring emergency orders that bind, curtail, or infringe the rights of private parties to be narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety purpose and limited in duration, applicability, and scope in order to reduce any infringement of individual liberty; Stating that state courts have jurisdiction to hear cases challenging the lawfulness of state and local emergency orders, requiring courts to expedite consideration of such challenges so that they are heard within 72 hours of being filed and to apply a strict scrutiny standard of judicial review when reviewing such challenges, and stating further that inequality in the applicability or impact of emergency orders on analogous groups, situations, and circumstances may constitute a ground for a court to invalidate or enjoin an emergency order, or some of its applications, as not narrowly tailored to serve a compelling public health or safety purpose; Allowing only the governor to issue an emergency order that infringes constitutional rights in a nontrivial manner and specifically identifying as constitutional rights the rights to travel, work, assemble, and speak; freedom of religious exercise; the nonimpairment of contract and property rights; freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures; and freedom to purchase lawful firearms and ammunition; Further limiting such infringing emergency orders by: Making an emergency order expire in 7 days unless the general assembly is in a regular legislative session and has at least 15 days to consider and vote to ratify, by a 2/3 supermajority vote, or terminate, by a simple majority vote, the emergency order or the governor calls the general assembly into a special legislative session for the purpose of considering and voting on the emergency order; and If the 7-day expiration does not apply, making any such order expire in 30 days unless: The governor or the general assembly terminates the order sooner; or The general assembly, by a 2/3 supermajority vote, adopts a joint resolution ratifying the order during the 30-day period; Authorizing each house of the general assembly to vote to ratify or terminate emergency orders by remote debate and electronic or other means; and Stating that if, during the pendency of a given emergency, the governor reissues any emergency order or issues another emergency order that is substantially similar to an emergency order that expired without legislative approval or that the general assembly terminated, the reissued or substantially similar emergency order shall not take effect unless the general assembly, by a 2/3 vote of the members of each house, adopts a joint resolution ratifying the emergency order. The bill also states that state and local officials may issue nonbinding recommendations and guidelines that do not include provisions for enforcement or surveillance and that they may help coordinate public and private action to prevent or respond to an emergency. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill establishes an income tax credit for the 2020 and 2021 income tax years for any taxpayer who: Has one or more qualified children whose school suspended in-person learning for at least 4 cumulative weeks during the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic (suspension of in-person learning); and Incurred costs as a result of the suspension of in-person learning . The amount of the credit allowed is either the amount of the costs incurred by the taxpayer as a result of the suspension of in-person learning or $750 for any income tax year, whichever is less; except that the maximum amount of the credit that a taxpayer may claim in the 2020 and 2021 income tax years combined shall not exceed $750 per qualified child and shall not exceed $2,500 total per taxpayer. A taxpayer is required to claim the credit for the income tax year in which the costs were incurred due to the suspension of in-person learning. The bill also creates an income tax credit for the 2020 and 2021 income tax years for any taxpayer who: Has one or more qualified children who experienced the suspension of in-person learning or whose daycare center was unable to provide in-person care for the qualified child for at least 4 cumulative weeks during the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Had to provide care for the qualified child due to the suspension of in-person learning or the inability of the daycare center to provide care; and As a result of providing such care for the taxpayer's qualified child, was unable to work and experienced a loss of income. The amount of the credit allowed is either the amount of income the taxpayer lost as a result of not being able to work due to the suspension of in-person learning or the inability of the qualified child's daycare center to provide care or $2,500 for any income tax year, whichever is less; except that the total amount of the credit claimed in the 2020 and 2021 income tax years combined shall not exceed $2,500. A taxpayer must claim the credit for the income tax year in which the taxpayer lost income. A taxpayer who claims either income tax credit is required to retain certain information to provide to the department of revenue upon request by the department. A taxpayer who claims one credit created in the bill is ineligible to claim the other credit created in the bill. Both credits may be carried forward for 3 years but may not be refunded. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill establishes an income tax credit for the 2020 and 2021 income tax years for any taxpayer who: Has one or more qualified children whose school suspended in-person learning for at least 4 cumulative weeks during the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic (suspension of in-person learning); and Incurred costs as a result of the suspension of in-person learning . The amount of the credit allowed is either the amount of the costs incurred by the taxpayer as a result of the suspension of in-person learning or $1,000 for any income tax year, whichever is less; except that the maximum amount of the credit that a taxpayer may claim in the 2020 and 2021 income tax years combined shall not exceed $1,000 per qualified child and shall not exceed $3,000 total per taxpayer. A taxpayer is required to claim the credit for the income tax year in which the costs were incurred due to the suspension of in-person learning. The bill also creates an income tax credit for the 2020 and 2021 income tax years for any taxpayer who: Has one or more qualified children who experienced the suspension of in-person learning or whose daycare center was unable to provide in-person care for the qualified child for at least 4 cumulative weeks during the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Had to provide care for the qualified child due to the suspension of in-person learning or the inability of the daycare center to provide care; and As a result of providing such care for the taxpayer's qualified child, was unable to work and experienced a loss of income. The amount of the credit allowed is either the amount of income the taxpayer lost as a result of not being able to work due to the suspension of in-person learning or the inability of the qualified child's daycare center to provide care or $3,000 for any income tax year, whichever is less; except that the total amount of the credit claimed in the 2020 and 2021 income tax years combined shall not exceed $3,000. A taxpayer must claim the credit for the income tax year in which the taxpayer lost income . A taxpayer who claims either income tax credit is required to retain certain information to provide to the department of revenue upon request by the department. A taxpayer who claims one credit created in the bill is ineligible to claim the other credit created in the bill. Both credits may be carried forward for 3 years but may not be refunded. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill establishes an income tax credit for the 2020 and 2021 income tax years for any taxpayer who: Has one or more qualified children whose school suspended in-person learning for at least 4 cumulative weeks during the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic (suspension of in-person learning); and Incurred costs as a result of the suspension of in-person learning. The amount of the credit allowed is either the amount of the costs incurred by the taxpayer as a result of the suspension of in-person learning or $7,084 for any income tax year, whichever is less; except that the maximum amount of the credit that a taxpayer may claim in the 2020 and 2021 income tax years combined shall not exceed $7,084 total per taxpayer. A taxpayer is required to claim the credit for the income tax year in which the costs were incurred due to the suspension of in-person learning. The bill also creates an income tax credit for the 2020 and 2021 income tax years for any taxpayer who: Has one or more qualified children who experienced the suspension of in-person learning or whose daycare center was unable to provide in-person care for the qualified child for at least 4 cumulative weeks during the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Had to provide care for the qualified child due to the suspension of in-person learning or the inability of the daycare center to provide care; and As a result of providing such care for the taxpayer's qualified child, was unable to work and experienced a loss of income. The amount of the credit allowed is either the amount of income the taxpayer lost as a result of not being able to work due to the suspension of in-person learning or the inability of the qualified child's daycare center to provide care or $7,084 for any income tax year, whichever is less; except that the total amount of the credit claimed in the 2020 and 2021 income tax years combined shall not exceed $7,084. A taxpayer must claim the credit for the income tax year in which the taxpayer lost income. A taxpayer who claims either income tax credit is required to retain certain information to provide to the department of revenue upon request by the department. A taxpayer who claims one credit created in the bill is ineligible to claim the other credit created in the bill. Both credits may be carried forward for 3 years but may not be refunded. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill establishes an income tax credit for the 2020 and 2021 income tax years for any taxpayer who: Has one or more qualified children whose school suspended in-person learning for at least 4 consecutive weeks during the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic (suspension of in-person learning); and Incurred costs as a result of the suspension of in-person learning. The amount of the credit allowed is either the amount of the costs incurred by the taxpayer as a result of the suspension of in-person learning or $2,000 for any income tax year, whichever is less; except that the maximum amount of the credit that a taxpayer may claim in the 2020 and 2021 income tax years combined shall not exceed $2,000 per qualified child. A taxpayer is required to claim the credit for the income tax year in which the costs were incurred due to the suspension of in-person learning. The bill also creates an income tax credit for the 2020 and 2021 income tax years for any taxpayer who: Has one or more qualified children who experienced the suspension of in-person learning or whose daycare center was unable to provide in-person care for the qualified child for at least 4 consecutive weeks during the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic; Had to provide care for the qualified child due to the suspension of in-person learning or the inability of the daycare center to provide care; and As a result of providing such care for the taxpayer's qualified child, was unable to work and experienced a loss of income. The amount of the credit allowed is either the amount of income the taxpayer lost as a result of not being able to work due to the suspension of in-person learning or the inability of the qualified child's daycare center to provide care or $2,000 for any income tax year, whichever is less. A taxpayer must claim the credit for the income tax year in which the taxpayer lost income. A taxpayer who claims either income tax credit is required to retain certain information to provide to the department of revenue upon request by the department. A taxpayer who claims one credit created in the bill is ineligible to claim the other credit created in the bill. Both credits may be carried forward for 3 years but may not be refunded. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill creates a temporary income tax credit for landlords in an amount equal to the amount of rental payments owed, but not paid, to a landlord by persons who, if not for a governmental moratorium, the landlord would have initiated an action against to terminate their tenancy, other estate at will, or lease due to the late payment of rental payments. Any part of the income tax credit that is not used may be carried forward for a 5-year period but may not be refunded.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Beginning in the 2020-21 budget year, the bill allows a school district, a board of cooperative services, a charter school, or the state charter school institute (local education provider) that operates a pathways in technology early college high school (p-tech school) to apply to the department of education (department) for reimbursement for the amount of tuition and fees and the costs of books and materials incurred in enrolling p-tech school students in postsecondary courses. The amount of the reimbursement is based on the average of the in-state tuition for local district colleges or community colleges, depending on the type of institution that provides the course, and is payable only for each successfully completed course credit hour. The state board of education must promulgate rules to implement the reimbursements. For the 2020-21 budget year and each budget year thereafter, the general assembly is directed to appropriate at least $2 million for the amount of the reimbursements. As part of the annual budget preparation process, the department will report the actual amount reimbursed and the amount expected to be reimbursed in the current and future budget years.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
The bill prohibits carriers from inducing, incentivizing, or otherwise requiring: A health care provider to collect any coinsurance, copayment, or deductible directly from a covered person or the covered person's responsible party; or A covered person to pay any coinsurance, copayment, or deductible directly to a health care provider. The carrier is required to collect any cost-sharing amounts owed by a covered person directly from the covered person in one consolidated bill. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
Under existing law, there is a presumptive range of fines for traffic misdemeanors and traffic infractions (traffic offenses) and there are specified fines and surcharges for certain traffic offenses. The bill increases the presumptive ranges of fines for traffic offenses and increases specified fines and surcharges for certain traffic offenses. The bill requires that 25% of the fine collected for a traffic misdemeanor and 50% of the fine collected for a traffic infraction be transmitted to the county in which the violation occurs. Counties are permitted to use the money for traffic safety improvements, traffic enforcement, prosecution of traffic violations, or any other use consistent with the state constitution. Under existing law, driving without a valid driver's license or instruction permit or driving a vehicle for which a person has not been issued the correct type or class of license is a class 2 traffic misdemeanor. The bill reclassifies those offenses as class A traffic infractions. Under existing law, operating or permitting the operation of a motor vehicle or low-power scooter without an insurance policy in effect or failing to present evidence of insurance following an accident or when asked to do so by a peace officer is a class 1 traffic misdemeanor. The bill reclassifies a first violation of each of those offenses as a class A traffic infraction punishable by a $500 fine. A court must reduce the fine to $250 upon a showing that the person has appropriate insurance. A second or subsequent violation within 5 years remains a class 1 traffic misdemeanor and is punishable by a $1,000 fine that may not be reduced by the court. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)
