Section 37-187-5 - Distribution of grant monies; timeframe for use of grant monies by recipient school districts(1) The department shall distribute grant monies, without the requirement of application by school districts or schools, as equitably and efficiently as possible after determining the unserved areas of the state using the latest publicly available Federal Communications Commission broadband data, and after determining which and to what extent Mississippi public school districts, independent schools and Native American tribal school districts educate students living in such unserved areas of the state. The Mississippi Department of Education shall consult with the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools and the administrations of the Native American tribal school districts in determining which and to what extent such schools and school districts educate students living in such unserved areas of the state. Any grant monies provided under this chapter shall be spent by the recipient school district no later than December 1, 2020, or by such later date as may be specified in the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established in Section 5001 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Grants shall be conditioned on the school district or school broadband provider agreements including that broadband capacity shall be expanded to a significant extent for the district's or school's students during the COVID-19 public health emergency.(2) Funds appropriated and grant monies distributed under this program may be expended on a license to use equipment and services for a period of no longer than one (1) year as necessary to address the COVID-19 crisis and fulfill the purposes of this program.(3) The department may develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the program.Amended by Laws, 2020, ch. 499, ,§ 4, (became law without the Governor's signature on October 9, 2020).Added by Laws, 2020, ch. 491, HB 1788,§ 4, (became law without the Governor's signature on July 9, 2020).