Relating to outdoor education and recreation programs serving youth, and making appropriations

This bill relates to outdoor education and recreation programs serving youth. The bill requires the director of the department of natural resources (DNR) to establish and administer a no child left inside program to provide grants for outdoor environmental, ecological, and other natural resource- based education and recreation programs serving youth. The director may award grants to public school districts or private nonprofit organizations, with preference given to programs that satisfy certain priorities. The director shall also ensure that at least percent of the moneys of each grant awarded to a program benefit students attending schools that qualify for funding under Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. The bill establishes an outdoor education and recreation fund in the state treasury under the control of DNR. The fund shall consist of moneys deposited in the fund from appropriations, gifts, grants, and other contributions, but may also consist of moneys that are deposited in the fund prior to July 1, 2024, from moneys received by the state from the elementary and secondary school emergency relief fund created pursuant to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act and from moneys received by the state under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, unless the governor determines such deposit to be contrary to federal guidelines or regulations. Any moneys deposited from either federal source shall be used for the purpose of issuing grants as part of the no child left inside program prior to using moneys deposited to the fund from the general fund. For the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022, and each fiscal year thereafter, the bill makes an appropriation of $1 million from the general fund to the outdoor education and recreation fund. At least percent of the moneys appropriated shall be used to provide grants to benefit students attending schools that qualify for funding under Title I of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.