COVID-19: FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

FAC STAFF RECOMMENDATION: DEFER TO LEG CON (PLACE HOLDER)

PROPOSED POLICY STATEMENT: Urge Congress to SUPPORT the continuation of funding to state and local governments to assist with critical local response efforts to the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: On March 4, 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. The legislation provided $8.3 billion in emergency funding for federal agencies to respond to the coronavirus outbreak related to developing a vaccine, medical supplies, grants for public health agencies, small business loans, and assistance for health systems in other countries. The bill also allowed for temporarily waiving Medicare restrictions and requirements regarding telehealth services.

Enacted on March 18, 2020, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act guaranteed free coronavirus testing, established paid leave, enhanced unemployment insurance, expanded food security initiatives, and increased federal Medicaid funding.

On March 27, 2002 Congress passed and President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (CARES Act; P.L. 116-136) into law. This established a new $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) for state, county and municipal governments with populations of over 500,000 people to address necessary expenditures incurred due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The U.S. Treasury oversees and serves at the administer for CRF payments to state and local governments. CRF payments will be available until December 30, 2020. If a state or eligible unit of local government does not spend all CRF payments that are allocated by December 2020, the U.S. Treasury will recover these funds.

On June 10, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the State of Florida’s plan to disburse up to $1.275 billion in CARES Act funds to counties with a population below 500,000. Using a phased approach, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) distributed funds to the remaining counties, beginning with an initial disbursement of 25% of each county’s allocation.

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ANALYSIS: On July 27, the U.S. Senate revealed the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protections & Schools Act (HEALS Act) for the next round of legislation to address COVID-19. The plan includes no additional funding for state and local governments at this time.

On August 18, the Senate published a draft proposal for a COVID-19 relief package, the Delivering Immediate Relief to America’s Families, Schools and Small Businesses Act. At $500 billion in direct federal spending and loans, the legislation is a scaled-back version of the Senate’s July proposal, the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protections & Schools Act (HEALS Act).

In this regard, the Senate is proposing to allow state/local governments to use CARES Act money to make up lost revenues. The date for using the money would be extended from Dec. 30, 2020 to 90 days after the end of the fiscal year, and 15 percent of state CARES Act funds must be given to local governments (there is still 45 percent suggested in the U.S. Treasury guidance, but the 15 percent will be legally enforceable). No funds can be used for pensions or retirement benefits, and no funds can be used to replenish a state or local government rainy-day fund. States must maintain their own budgeted spending levels (cannot use federal dollars to replace state spending), and states may not impose any restrictions on the use of CARES Act money by their local governments, other than those set in the CARES Act and associated Treasury Dept guidance.

At this time, the Delivering Immediate Relief Act does not allot additional state and local aid beyond what was already allocated under the CARES Act’s $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF). While the bill has not been officially introduced, it signals the direction the Senate may take as they seek to reach a final COVID-19 relief deal with the House in September.

FISCAL IMPACT: TBD

ASSIGNED COMMITTEE: COVID

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ARA-PP-3: FOOD INSECURITY

FAC STAFF RECOMMENDATION: ADOPT

PROPOSED POLICY: Proposal to add the following Guiding Principle: The Florida Association of Counties supports increased state funding and policies that reduce food insecurity among Floridians, in order to: 1) increase the health and productivity of those currently without consistent access to healthy food, 2) consequently reduce the demand for public health and human services, 3) improve the financial security of those in need, and 4) accelerate the recovery and increase the resiliency of Florida’s economy in the aftermath of the COVID- 19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: For many years, the Governor and Florida Legislature have provided much-needed funding to the Feeding Florida food bank network to support its anti-hunger efforts during ‘blue skies’ (normal operations) as well as ‘grey skies’ (in response to disasters and emergencies). But to date, no state funding has been designated to address the surge in food insecurity that has occurred since the pandemic began. The federal CARES Act provided much-needed funding for some of the state’s regional food banks. In Leon County, for instance, the County Commission allocated $3.3 million to Second Harvest of the Big Bend for the expansion of child nutrition programs, senior grocery food boxes, and other programs. All CARES Act funds, however, must be expended by December 31, 2020 and to date there is no subsequent federal legislation to assists states once these resources are exhausted. And yet, helping the most vulnerable Floridians rebound quickly from a disaster (whether a hurricane or a pandemic) is a robust approach to accelerating the state’s economic recovery, as well as increasing resilience to any future economic shocks.

One of the fastest, most cost-effective ways to help those in need is to provide them with consistent access to healthy meals. Doing so provides benefits to those individuals as well as to our state and local governments. With greater access to nutritious food, Florida’s most vulnerable population will be healthier, thus reducing the state’s public healthcare and human services costs. Also, by enabling low- income families and individuals to shift more of their income from food toward other necessities like rent, utilities and transportation, Florida will experience an accelerated, more resilient economic recovery after the pandemic.

ANALYSIS: Prior to the pandemic, 2.77 million Floridians were food insecure; 800,000 of those were children. (Source: https://www.feedingflorida.org/staying-informed/hunger-food-insecurity. Retrieved 8/9/20.) Unfortunately, the pandemic has made the problem much worse. Food insecurity has surged since the arrival of COVID-19, with an additional 1.2 million Floridians lacking access to healthy food. The state now

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has 3.97 million people who are food insecure – an increase of 43% in just the past few months. Every county in the state has been negatively affected. In Leon County, for example, food insecurity has increased 44% since the pandemic began. More than 27% of the county’s total population is now food insecure, as are 30% of the county’s children. Research shows that food insecurity has a significant, measurable effect on a person’s health (Source: https://afmc.org/afmc-healthspot/what-does-hunger- cost/. Retrieved 8/9/18.): - Children who struggle to get enough to eat are more likely to be obese and have problems in school and other social situations. - Seniors who are food insecure are 50% more likely to have diabetes, 60% more likely to have heart disease, and 30% more likely to have at least one physical impairment. With the socioeconomic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic likely to extend beyond CY2021, Florida’s food insecure population is likely to experience even greater hardship. This, in turn, will hinder their own financial recovery as well as that of the entire state.

FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact will depend on the level of state funding allocated and/or the cost of the policy adopted to reduce food insecurity. However, the economic benefits of such an investment will be significant to low-income Floridians, and the investment will accelerate the state’s economic recovery after the pandemic.

SUBMITTING COUNTY AND CONTACT: Leon; [email protected], 850-445-1914

ASSIGNED COMMITTEE: ARA

BOARD SUPPORT: This policy proposal will be submitted to the Leon County Commission for its approval at its next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

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HSJ-PP-3: LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY EXTENSION

FAC STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt

PROPOSED POLICY STATEMENT: SUPPORT extending the duration of time local governments are authorized to declare a local state of emergency, from seven days to thirty days.

BACKGROUND: F.S. 252.38(3)(a) provides local governments the authority to declare a state of local emergency for a duration of seven days. Among other things, the declaration provides local governments the power and authority to waive the procedures and formalities otherwise required by law pertaining to:

• Performance of public work and taking whatever prudent action is necessary to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the community • Entering into contracts • Incurring obligations • Employment of permanent and temporary workers • Utilization of volunteer workers • Rental of equipment • Acquisition and distribution, with or without compensation, of supplies, materials, and facilities • Appropriation and expenditure of public funds. Currently, the local emergency declaration may be extended, as necessary, in seven-day increments

ANALYSIS: Local governments in Florida typically declare local states of emergency for weather related events such as hurricanes. Local states of emergency are usually declared in the days prior to a landfall and end in the days following the event. COVID-19 has presented a new challenge to local governments as they respond to an extended global pandemic in which it is unclear when the event will conclude. On March 9, 2020, Governor DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-52 declaring a State of Emergency for the state of Florida in order to respond to the effects of COVID- 19 throughout the state. Since that time, local governments throughout the state have also declared local states of emergency. Because the duration for local states of emergency is limited to seven days, local government boards have met weekly to extend the orders within their jurisdiction, ensuring they do not lapse. Satisfying public meeting notice requirements,

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additional coordination, and increased time commitments for elected officials and staff has proven to be challenging but necessary in order to continuously extend local states of emergency. Extending the length of time local states of emergency may be declared will enable local governments to respond to events such as the current public health crisis, while providing for additional flexibility.

FISCAL IMPACT: N/A

SUBMITTING COUNTY: Pinellas

ASSIGNED COMMITTEE: HSJ

BOARD SUPPORT: No Position

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