Sec. 4. Modernizing IT grant program
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/bill/116/hr/8048/ih/section-4·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
There is established in the Department a program to be known as the Modernizing IT Grant Program , under which the Secretary may make grants to States to modernize information technology for the purpose of securely enabling digital delivery of government services, including the digital delivery of— emergency services; government benefit and entitlement programs; and administrative services performed by a State. To be eligible for a grant under the Modernizing IT Grant Program, a State shall— with respect to fiscal years 2021, 2022, and 2023, maintain the funding levels of the lesser of fiscal year 2019, or the average of fiscal years 2017, 2018, and 2019, with respect to information technology support and modernization; and provide matching funds equal to 5 percent of the amount of any grant received under the Modernizing IT Grant Program.
Each State may apply for a grant under the Modernizing IT Grant Program, and shall submit such information in support of such a grant as the Secretary may require, including the following: A State information technology modernization plan, including— a description of existing information technology; the costs related to maintenance of existing information technology; a compilation of recent security audits of existing information technology; a compilation of recent operational performance reports of existing information technology; a methodology to prioritize projects and procurement to account for— security gains; operational gains; and cost; and a transition plan to modernize existing information technology, including— a comparative analysis of cloud-based versus on-premise solutions; and an estimate of operation and maintenance costs for the information technology to be procured under such transition plan.
A local government information technology modernization plan describing how grants awarded under the Modernizing IT Grant Program will be used to provide— subgrants to local governments to modernize their information technology supporting digital delivery of government services; or shared services to local governments to support the digital delivery of government services. The Secretary, acting through the Director, and in consultation with the Administrator of General Services, shall evaluate each application for a grant under the Modernizing IT Grant Program with respect to the appropriateness of the information technology modernization plan to improve cybersecurity and enhance the capability to effectively deliver digital government services.
The Director may provide technical assistance to States applying for a grant under the Modernizing IT Grant Program with respect to State and local government information technology modernization plans described in paragraph (1)(B). To be eligible for a grant under the Modernizing IT Grant Program, a State shall agree to designate the Chief Information Officer, or an equivalent official, of the State as the primary official for the management and allocation of funds awarded under the Modernizing IT Grant Program.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall select commonly accepted security standards and certifications with respect to information technology. To be eligible for a grant under the Modernizing IT Grant Program, a State shall agree to procure only information technology that meets or exceeds the standards and certifications described in paragraph
(1)with funds made available under such Program. A State may not receive more than one grant under the Modernizing IT Grant Program. The Secretary may determine the amount of a grant to be awarded to a State, excluding Tribal governments, under the Modernizing IT Grant Program based on the population of such State, except no grant awarded under such Program may be less than $100,000,000. Grants to Tribal governments under the Modernization Grant Program may not exceed $500,000,000 in the aggregate. Grant funds awarded under the Modernizing IT Grant Program shall be dispersed in structured payments over a period of five years, in such increments as the Secretary determines appropriate for the project or procurement to be carried out using the funds. Each State that receives a grant under the Modernizing IT Grant Program shall reserve not less than 40 percent of amounts received under such grant for the purpose of making a subgrant to local governments to implement the local government information technology modernization plan required under subsection (c)(1)(B). Amounts received under the Modernizing IT Grant Program that are not expended by the date that is five years after the date of the receipt of such funds shall be returned to the Treasury of the United States. The Secretary may not expend more than $25,000,000 for administration of the Modernizing IT Grant Program. Not later than 180 days after receiving a grant under the Modernizing IT Grant Program, a recipient of such grant shall submit to the Secretary a report that— describes how grant funds were obligated or expended, including the use of funds made available as subgrants; and demonstrates compliance by each recipient and subgrantee with the requirements of such Program. Not later than 1 year after the date of the first grant awarded under the Modernizing IT Grant Program and annually thereafter until all funds are expended or returned to the Treasury of the United States, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that— describes how grant funds were obligated or expended, including the use of funds made available as subgrants; and demonstrates compliance by each recipient and subgrantee with the requirements of such Program. There is authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000,000 for grants under the Modernizing IT Grant Program. Amounts authorized to be appropriated pursuant to this subsection are authorized to remain available until September 30, 2027.