Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act
Bill: S.2258 | Sponsor: Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. (D-CO)
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources

Summary:
Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act
This bill directs the Department of the Interior to establish the Parks, Jobs, and Equity Program to support park development and delivery of recreation services, and in so doing, help create or preserve jobs, and provide economic stimulus in communities impacted by the COVID-19 (e.g., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
A grant recipient may use a grant awarded under this bill for

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a Parks, Jobs, and 
 Equity Program to support job creation, economic revitalization, and 
         park development for communities impacted by COVID-19.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Parks, Jobs, and Equity Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a city or town of a State or territory of the 
                United States, or an Indian Tribe, that--
                            (i) represents or otherwise serves a 
                        qualifying urban area; or
                            (ii) has a population of 30,000 or more in 
                        the most recent census;
                    (B) a special purpose district serving--
                            (i) a qualifying urban area; or
                            (ii) a city or town with a population of 
                        30,000 or more in the most recent census and 
                        managing open space for public recreation; and
                    (C) the District of Columbia.
            (2) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the 
        meaning given that term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
        Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
            (3) Low-income community.--The term ``low-income 
        community'' means any census block group in which 51 percent or 
        more households have an annual income equal at or below 80 
        percent of the median income of the area in which the household 
        is located, as reported by the Department of Housing and Urban 
        Development.
            (4) Parks, jobs and equity program.--The term ``Parks, 
        Jobs, and Equity Program'' means the program established under 
        section 3(a).
            (5) Poverty level.--The term ``poverty level'' means the 
        income poverty guidelines for the nonfarm population of the 
        United States, as prescribed by the Office of Management and 
        Budget.
            (6) Qualifying urban area.--The term ``qualifying urban 
        area'' means an area identified by the Census Bureau as an area 
        with a population of 30,000 or more in the most recent census.
            (7) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.

SEC. 3. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish the Parks, Jobs, and 
Equity Program to support park development and delivery of recreation 
services, and in so doing, help create or preserve jobs, and provide 
economic stimulus in communities impacted by COVID-19.
    (b) Funding.--The Secretary, acting through the Parks, Jobs, and 
Equity Program, shall provide funding to States, territories, the 
District of Columbia, and Indian Tribes according to the following 
formula:
            (1) 49 percent divided equally among the States. For the 
        purposes of this paragraph, the District of Columbia and the 
        territories of the United States shall collectively be treated 
        as a single State and shall receive shares of apportionment in 
        proportion to qualifying urban areas.
            (2) 49 percent divided proportionally among States based on 
        each State's share of urban population, as defined by the 
        Census Bureau, to the total urban population of the United 
        States, based on the most recent census.
            (3) 2 percent for competitive grants to be awarded by the 
        Secretary to Indian Tribes that qualify as an eligible entity.

SEC. 4. ALLOCATION.

    (a) Amounts to States, Territories, and the District of Columbia.--
The Governor of a State or territory (or a designated liaison officer) 
or the Mayor of the District of Columbia shall distribute funds 
provided to the State, territory, or District of Columbia under this 
Act as follows:
            (1) Not less than 50 percent of funds shall be provided to 
        eligible entities for eligible uses that benefit a low-income 
        community.
            (2) Funds to eligible entities shall be not less than 
        $50,000 and not more than $1,000,000.
            (3) Not more than 2.5 percent of funds may be used for 
        administrative expenses of the State, territory, or the 
        District of Columbia.
            (4) Not more than 10 percent of funds provided to an 
        eligible entity may be used for administrative expenses.
    (b) Amounts to Indian Tribes.--
            (1) Amount.--Grant amounts under this Act to an eligible 
        Indian Tribe shall be not less than $50,000 and not more than 
        $1,000,000.
            (2) Administrative expenses.--An Indian Tribe may not 
        retain more than 10 percent of each grant received under this 
        Act for administrative expenses.
    (c) Timing.--
            (1) Distribution of funds.--The Secretary shall distribute 
        funds made available to carry out this Act not more than 45 
        days after such funds are made available to the Secretary.
            (2) Application procedures.--The Governors or Executive 
        Officers of States and territories and the governing body of 
        each Indian Tribe shall--
                    (A) devise accelerated application procedures by 
                which eligible entities may apply for funds under this 
                Act;
                    (B) inform eligible entities and low-income 
                communities about the opportunity to apply for funds 
                under this Act, the application procedures by which 
                eligible entities may apply for funds, and the eligible 
                uses for funding;
                    (C) distribute funds to eligible entities not later 
                than 180 days after distribution from the Secretary; 
                and
                    (D) direct each eligible entity that receives funds 
                under this Act to spend such funds not later than 2 
                years after the funds are made available to that 
                eligible entity.
            (3) Extension.--Governors and Executive Officers of a State 
        or territory and the governing body of an Indian Tribe may 
        grant extensions of the deadlines in this subsection for not 
        more than 180 additional days for good cause shown.

SEC. 5. ELIGIBLE USES.

    (a) In General.--A grant recipient may use a grant awarded under 
this Act--
            (1) to acquire land or water that will be used to provide 
        outdoor recreation opportunities to the public;
            (2) to develop or renovate outdoor recreational facilities 
        that provide outdoor recreation opportunities to the public;
            (3) to improve delivery of recreation services to the 
        public (including supporting park personnel, training, 
        recreation programming, and purchase of recreation equipment 
        and supplies); and
            (4) to develop native event sites and cultural gathering 
        spaces.
    (b) Priorities.--Priority shall be given to projects that--
            (1) create or significantly enhance park and recreational 
        opportunities for a community in a qualifying urban area that 
        lacks parks and/or outdoor recreation areas within one-half 
        mile or a 10-minute walk;
            (2) improve outdoor recreation opportunities for high-need 
        populations based on income, age, or other measures of 
        vulnerability and need;
            (3) provide opportunities for employment or job training 
        either in park construction or rehabilitation or delivery of 
        recreation services;
            (4) engage and empower underserved communities and youth; 
        and
            (5) take advantage of coordination among various levels of 
        government.
    (c) Limitations on Use.--A grant recipient may not use grant funds 
for--
            (1) maintenance activities;
            (2) facilities that support semiprofessional or 
        professional athletics;
            (3) indoor facilities such as recreation centers or 
        facilities that support primarily nonoutdoor purposes;
            (4) activities that are not in accordance with 
        Comprehensive State Plans under section 200305 of title 54, 
        United States Code; or
            (5) acquisition of land or interests in land that restrict 
        access to specific persons.

SEC. 6. REPORTING.

    (a) Requirement.--Each year that a State or Territory that receives 
a grant under this Act shall submit to the Secretary performance and 
financial reports that--
            (1) summarize the status of and activities conducted under 
        each subgrant during the report period; and
            (2) provide a description of each subgrant project's 
        accomplishments and impact during the report period, such as 
        new park access opportunities, new recreation opportunities 
        (facilities and services), jobs created, and other community 
        benefits.
    (b) Availability to Congress.--The Secretary shall make such 
reports submitted under subsection (a) available to the House Committee 
on Natural Resources and Senate Committee on Energy and Natural 
Resources.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the 
purposes of this Act, $500,000,000, to remain available until expended.
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