Coronavirus Community Relief Act

To provide for an enhanced Coronavirus relief fund for units of government with a population of 500,000 or less, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Coronavirus Community Relief Act 2. Coronavirus relief fund for units of government with a population of 500,000 or less Title VI of the Social Security Act (as added by section 5001 of Public Law 116–136 602. Coronavirus relief fund for units of government with a population of 500,000 or less (a) Appropriation (1) In general Out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, there are appropriated for making payments to units of local government with a population of 500,000 or less $250,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2020. (b) Authority To make payments The Secretary shall pay to a unit of local government of the relative unit of local government population proportion amount within 30 days after a unit of local government of a State submits the certification required by subsection (e). (c) Payment amounts (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the maximum aggregate amount paid under this section for fiscal year 2020 to units of local government in a State shall be the amount equal to the relative population proportion amount determined for the State under paragraph (2) for such fiscal year. (2) Relative population proportion amount For purposes of paragraph (1), the relative population proportion amount determined under this paragraph for a State for fiscal year 2020 is the product of— (A) the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) for fiscal year 2020; and (B) the relative State population proportion (as defined in paragraph (3)). (3) Relative State population proportion defined For purposes of paragraph (2)(B), the term relative State population proportion (A) the population of the State; and (B) the total population of all States. (4) Relative unit of local government population proportion amount For purposes of subsection (b), the term relative unit of local government population proportion amount (A) the population of the unit of local government; and (B) the aggregate total population of local governments determined by adding the population of each unit of local government. (5) Data For purposes of this subsection, the population of States and units of local governments shall be determined based on the most recent year for which data are available from the Bureau of the Census. (6) Other relief Nothing in this section shall affect appropriated funds to units of local government as a result of Public Law 116–136 Public Law 116–136 (d) Use of funds A unit of local government shall use the funds provided under a payment made under this section to cover only those costs of the unit of local government that— (1) are costs that— (A) are reasonably deemed by the unit of local government to be necessary; and (B) directly or indirectly involve, relate to, are, have been, or will be incurred due to, or are, have been, or will be a response to circumstances caused by, the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19); and (2) were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020. To the extent that a unit of local government does not need all of the funds paid to it, it may transfer such funds to another unit of local government in the State for uses in paragraph (1) of this subsection and such transfer is deemed to be a cost of the transferor. (e) Certification In order to receive a payment under this section, a unit of local government shall provide the Secretary with a certification signed by the Chief Executive (or equivalent) for the unit of local government that the local government’s uses of the funds are or will be consistent with subsection (d). (f) Inspector General oversight; recoupment (1) Oversight authority The Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury shall conduct monitoring and oversight of the receipt, disbursement, and use of funds made available under this section. (2) Recoupment If the Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury determines that a unit of local government has failed to comply with subsection (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. Amounts recovered under this subsection shall be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury. (3) Authority of inspector general Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to diminish the authority of any Inspector General, including such authority as provided in the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.). (g) Definitions In this section: (1) Costs The term Costs (2) Local government The term unit of local government (3) Secretary The term Secretary (4) State The term State .

Summary: Coronavirus Community Relief Act This bill provides $250 billion for certain localities affected by the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic. Specifically, the bill provides funding for FY2020 for units of local government with a population of 500,000 or less. Payment shall be made within 30 days after submission of a specified certification by the locality. The amount of the payment is proportional to population. Local governments shall use the funds provided to cover only those costs that (1) are necessary and related to the public health emergency caused by COVID-19, and (2) were incurred during the period of March 1-December 30, 2020. The Office of Inspector General of the Department of the Treasury shall conduct monitoring and oversight of the receipt, disbursement, and use of funds.