From The Office of Rep. Wayne Sasser:

Rep. Wayne Sasser joined his colleagues today in unanimously approving two COVID-19 response packages, including more than $1.5 billion in relief for families, students, workers, businesses and hospitals to help deal with the coronavirus pandemic.

The Pandemic Response Act (HB 1043) provides funding for North Carolina’s medical
providers, education communities and broadband connectivity.

The COVID-19 Recovery Act (SB 704) provides tax relief, streamlines unemployment access and makes policy reforms in education, healthcare, and government operations to assist North
Carolinians through the pandemic and economic shutdown.

“The COVID-19 response bills will help North Carolina recover from the devastating impact the pandemic has had on our state’s economy,” Sasser said.

The package lays the groundwork for moving the state forward and responding to the economic and human impacts of this pandemic.

The bill addresses both immediate needs, like purchasing personal protective equipment and expanding digital infrastructure needs, and long-term research and development to fight the virus. It supports testing for uninsured patients, rural and under-served communities, and behavioral health services.

Funding Includes:

Small Business

$125 million for small business loans

K-12 Education

$75 million for school nutrition

$70 million for summer learning programs

$11 million to improve K-12 internet connectivity

$30 million to K-12 schools for computers and other electronic devices

$10 million for mental health and other student health services

$5 million for computers and other devices for school personnel

$4.5 million for cybersecurity at schools

$3 million for non-digital instruction for students with limited internet access

$1 million to improve internet access by installing WiFi routers in school buses

Higher Education

$25 million for community colleges

$44 million for UNC System schools

$20 million for private colleges

COVID-19 Supplies and Support

$50 million to enhance Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

$25 million to expand testing and contact tracing

$25 million for financial support for assisted living facilities

$20 million for enhanced public health capacity

$20 million for behavioral health

Rural Broadband

$9 million to help expand rural broadband

Social Services

$19 million for foster and child care

$6 million for food banks

$5 million for community health centers

$5 million for free and charitable clinics

$1.5 million for prescriptions for uninsured

COVID-19 Research

$29 million to UNC School of Public Health/NC Collaboratory

$20 million to Wake Forest University to expand the antibody study

$15 million to Duke University Human Vaccine Institute

$15 million to ECU Brody School of Medicine

$6 million to Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Hospitals

$65 million to rural hospitals

$15 million for North Carolina teaching hospitals

$15 million for a general hospital relief fund

State and Local Government

$300 million for local government coronavirus relief reserve

$50 million for rural and underserved communities

$100 million for counties

$85 million for state government operations

$300 million for transportation operations

$5 million for tourism industry support