SB 704 – COVID-19 Recovery Act

Establishment of Coronavirus Relief Reserve

  • $6 million for DHHS to allocate to the 6 food banks
  • $15 million for DHHS for one time payment costs for licensed facilities for State-County Special Assistance
  • $2.25 million for Social Services to assist children in foster care
  • $10 million for the NC Association of Free and Charitable Clinics
  • $5 million for the NC Community Health Centers Association
  • $15 million for the Duke University Human Vaccine Institute
  • $20 million to the Wake Forest University Health Services for its COVID-19 study
  • $1.8 million to the Old North State Medical Society to target rural areas and African American communities with outreach, health education, and testing to address COVID-19 disparities in NC
  • $250,000 to the Department of Information Technology to provide funds for the purchase of Wi-Fi routers in designated tier 1 or tier 2 counties
  • $15 million for the NC Policy Collaboratory
  • $56 million for the Department of Public Instruction to use for school nutrition
  • $9 million for the Department of Information Technology to use for the Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology Fund
  • $25 million for DHHS to expand COVID-19 testing initiatives
  • $20 million for DHHS to provide support to health departments and rural health providers
  • $25 million for DHHS to provide funding for food banks, residential settings, domestic violence shelters, homeless populations, and child care
  • $61 million for DHHS to provide funds for rural and underserved communities
  • $22 million for the Department of Public Instruction to provide funds for school nutrition programs
  • $125 million for small business support through the Golden Leaf Foundation
  • Allows the State Treasurer to have flexibility to deter State Health Plan Payments during the COVID-19 emergency
  • Provides Medicaid coverage for the COVID-19 testing for uninsured individuals during the COVID-19 emergency
  • Medicaid provider rate increases during the emergency
  • Permits telehealth involuntary commitment during the emergency
  • Medical liability protections that include civil liability protections for any harm or damages
  • Establishment of the NC Pandemic Recovery Office to oversee and Coordinate Funds

 

Amendment by Sen. Gladys Robinson (D-Guilford)

  • $20 million to DHHS to provide flexible funds to support local health departments, rural health providers, and mental health services
  • $25 million to DHHS for food banks, homeless and domestic violence shelters, housing security, child care, and technology modifications
  • $61 million to DHHS to provide funds for rural and underserved communities
  • $22 million to the Department of Public Instruction to provide funds for school nutrition programs

This amendment passed and will be included in the bill.

This bill passed the Senate with a vote of 48-0 on April 29, 2020,and will now move to the House.