Use Federal Funds for COVID-19 Surveillance for State Facilities
Biennium
2020-2022
Budget Round
Amended Bill
Half Sheet Number
326 #2c
Description
This amendment supplants $2.1 million the first year and $4.3 million the second year from the general fund with federal funds from the ELC Enhancing Detection Expansion grant funding provided to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) through the Centers for Disease Control. The federal Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 that was signed into law on December 27, 2020 and provides substantial federal funding to states for COVID-19 testing. The estimate for Virginia is about $490 million. This amendment directs the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to coordinate its COVID-19 surveillance activities for state facilities with VDH in order to access those federal funds. A companion amendment in Item 299 addresses actions required of the VDH to secure such funds.