Monday, May 10, 2021 | 2:53 p.m.
CARSON CITY — State lawmakers have received guidance on how they can spend billions of federal aid dollars coming into Nevada from the American Rescue Plan.
The question now is, will there be enough time in the legislative session to act?
Lawmakers are rapidly approaching the May 31 end date for the session and will have about three weeks to allocate the funding without having to convene for a special session.
Some lawmakers today said it was too soon to know how long it might take to allocate the massive allotment.
“It’ll depend a lot on what the guidance actually says, how much clarity we get on what we can use money for and if we’ve got time to implement that with the budget,” Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro, D-Las Vegas, said.
The guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department would allow the money to be used, for among other things:
• Public health expenditures such as COVID-19 mitigation, medical expenses, behavioral health care and some public health and safety staff. This category includes programs involving testing, vaccinations and contact tracing, increasing health care capacity and providing substance abuse and mental health treatment.
• Mitigating negative economic impacts caused by the pandemic, including impacts to workers, small businesses and the public and private sector. The category includes job training, tourism and hospitality industry recovery and aid for small businesses.
• Serving hard-hit communities, including measures like affordable housing development, tutoring and after-school programs and expanded child care services.
•Government services, to the extent revenue was reduced during the pandemic. Aid recipients will be able to compare their actual revenue through the pandemic to what could reasonably have been expected if the pandemic had not hit.
• Providing “premium pay” for essential workers. Under this provision, essential workers include health care and nursing home workers; restaurant, farm and grocery store workers; and child care and education workers.
• Water, sewer and broadband infrastructure. Broadband expansion into Nevada’s rural counties, long a goal of Nevada’s congressional delegation, will likely receive support under this provision, which is geared toward unserved or underserved communities.
The state as an entity will receive $2.74 billion, while Las Vegas will get $130.6 million, North Las Vegas will get $46.3 million and Henderson will get $37.4 million. Reno will receive $51.5 million, and Sparks will get $16.2 million.
“This will be one of the largest infusions of federal dollars into Nevada in history, and therefore it is critical that we take the time to analyze the guidance in detail so we can ensure these funds are spent in accordance with eligibility guidelines and in the most effective manner for Nevada residents,” Gov. Steve Sisolak said in a statement.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Chris Brooks, D-Las Vegas, said if the guidance requires the Legislature to approve a plan before the funding is allocated, there would probably not be enough time in the session to finish the job.
Assembly Speaker Jason Frierson, D-Las Vegas, said he had not yet read the 151-page document but was “thrilled that we’re finally going to have a foundation to be able to make some decisions moving forward.”
Sisolak said the state will follow the previously introduced Every Nevadan Recovery Framework, a planning strategy to set goals for the use of the funding. Under that strategy, potential expenditures are broken down between basic needs, community, economy and quality of life.
“I look forward to working together with leaders across the state to make sure this money is used strategically to propel our recovery and set Nevadans on a path for success,” Sisolak said.
