Title: Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility for State and Local Government Act
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility for State and Local Government Act
This bill gives states, Native American tribes, and municipalities more flexibility in the use of funds provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Specifically, the bill permits states, tribes, and municipalities to use such funds for operating expenses not related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019). Such funds shall remain available until expended.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3608 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3608

   To amend the CARES Act to provide flexibility in use of funds by 
               States, Indian Tribes, and municipalities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 5, 2020

  Mr. Kennedy introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
              referred to the Committee on Appropriations

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend the CARES Act to provide flexibility in use of funds by 
               States, Indian Tribes, and municipalities.

    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 ``Coronavirus Relief Fund Flexibility 
for State and Local Government Act''.

SEC. 2. FLEXIBILITY IN USE OF FUNDS BY STATES, INDIAN TRIBES, AND 
              MUNICIPALITIES.

    (a) In General.--The CARES Act (Public Law 116-136) is amended by 
adding after section 23007 the following:
    ``Sec. 23007A (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), 
notwithstanding any other provision of this Act or an amendment made by 
this Act, funds made available under this Act, or an amendment made by 
this Act, to a State or municipality, as those terms are defined in 
section 4002, may be used by the State or municipality for operating 
expenses not related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to 
remain available until expended.
    ``(b) No State may use funds made available under this Act or an 
amendment made by this Act for any State pension fund.''.
    (b) Applicability.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
apply to funds made available under the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136) 
on or after the date of enactment of that Act.
    (c) Elimination of Use of Funds Restrictions on Coronavirus Relief 
Fund Payments.--Effective as if included in the enactment of the 
Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-
136), section 601 of the Social Security Act, as added by section 
5001(a) of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, is 
amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Use and Availability of Funds.--Funds paid to a State, Tribal 
government, and unit of local government under this section may be used 
for operating expenses not related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 
(COVID-19) and shall remain available until expended.'';
            (2) in subsection (e), by striking ``that the local 
        government's proposed uses of the funds are consistent with 
        subsection (d)''; and
            (3) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (2);
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
                paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2) (as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (B)), by striking ``and recoupment''.
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