Capitol Update - JFC Meeting May 7, 2024Dee Pettack, Executive Director, School Administrators AllianceOn May 7th, the Joint Finance Committee will meet to discuss expending resources set aside in their supplemental appropriation account during the 2023-25 budget. The Department of Transportation is requesting $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2023-24 from the Committee's supplemental appropriation to fund the department's driver education grants. Along with its funding request, DOT has submitted a plan for administering the driver education grants program. The Department has created an online application portal for students to apply for program grants. Students are eligible for the federal FRL program, and thus driver education grants, if their household income level is under 185% of the federal poverty level ($47,767 for a family of three in 2024). The online application will require a student's parent or guardian to certify that they are FRL-eligible and agree to provide documented evidence of their eligibility if requested. Upon being accepted, the online portal will provide students with an electronic voucher, which the student can use to enroll in a driver education course with a licensed provider. Providers then use voucher information to receive reimbursement for course fees from the Department of Transportation. (For additional information see the 2023 Act 86 Memo) Also before the committee is the Department of Public Instruction request from the Committee’s supplement appropriation for $500,000 GPR in each of fiscal years 2023-24 and 2024-25 from the department's recovery high school grant appropriation, pursuant to 2023 Act 72. These are grants to public, private, or Tribal high schools for the operation and planning of schools that are designed for pupils recovering from substance use disorders. (For additional information see the 2023 Act 72 Memo) |