AT#: CSBG-AT-2020-06
DATE: August 4, 2020
TO: CSBG States and Territories
SUBJECT: CSBG CARES Act and CSBG FY2021 Plan Due Dates
ATTACHMENT(S): CSBG CARES Act Supplemental State Plan; Submission Groups
Dear Colleagues,
PURPOSE: To provide states and territories guidance regarding application deadlines for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 CSBG Plans during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.
RELATED REFERENCES: Department of Health and Human Services Block Grant Regulations, 45 CFR Part 96; Community Services Block Grant Act, 42 U.S.C. §9901 et seq.; and Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, 2020, Public Law 116-36.
BACKGROUND
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, 2020, Public Law 116-36, was signed into law on March 27, 2020, providing $1 billion in additional funds to the CSBG program to prevent, prepare for, and respond to, coronavirus. The CARES Act funds for states and territories authorized under the CSBG Act will be used to address the consequences of increasing unemployment and economic disruption as a result of COVID-19. Additionally, the CSBG Act requires regular submission of 1- or 2-year plans. For purposes of this AT, states and territories are referred to as ‘CSBG grantees’.
CSBG CARES ACT AND FY 2021 CSBG PLAN DEADLINES
CSBG CARES Act Plan Amendment - All CSBG grantees are required to submit a plan amendment to the FY 2020 CSBG Plan that specifically relates to the CSBG CARES Act supplemental funding. This plan will be submitted through the On-Line Data Collection (OLDC) system. The CSBG CARES Act Plan is due September 1, 2020.
FY2021 CSBG PLAN
For CSBG grantees that submitted:
- A two-year plan on September 1, 2019 for FY2020 and FY2021 - No further action is required for the current period.
- A one-year state plan on September 1, 2019 - OCS will consider the FY2020 plan as a ‘Pro-Forma’ FY2021 plan, if there are no changes to the allocation rate of funds or changes to eligible entities. The State CSBG Authorized Official must submit a letter to the OCS Director affirming this by September 1, 2020.
For the purposes of this ‘Pro Forma’ state plan process, changes to the eligible entities through a de-designation process does not constitute a change to the allocation formula, as long as the successor entity receives the same allocation. The State CSBG Authorized Official should indicate in the letter to OCS if any of the eligible entities have changed.
For states that will have a change to the allocation formula in the state plan for FY2021, the state plan submission deadline will be December 1, 2020. In addition to the state plan submission, the State CSBG Authorized Official must submit a letter to the OCS Director by September 1, 2020 affirming or describing:
- The change to the allocation formula and reason for change;
- That the eligible entities within the state plan will be the same as the eligible entities reported in the previous state plan; and
- A description of the changes to the eligible entities expected to be included in the new state plan, if applicable.
- A two-year state plan on September 1, 2018 - A new state plan is due, and the deadline is extended to December 1, 2020. In addition to the state plan submission, the State CSBG Authorized Official must submit a letter to the OCS Director by September, 1, 2020, affirming or describing:
- That the state plan will be a 1-year or 2-year state plan;
- That the eligible entities within the state plan will be the same as the eligible entities reported in the previous state plan; and
- A description of the changes to the eligible entities expected to be included in the new state plan, if applicable.
Thank you for your attention to these matters. OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high quality services to OCS grantees.
/s/
Clarence H. Carter
Acting Director
Office of Community Services
