Virginia lawmakers will accept settlement over COVID-19 money

Northam

Virginia lawmakers will accept settlement over COVID-19 money

Virginia lawmakers are set to make a compromise plan to spend $4.3 billion in federal coronavirus relief by the House of Delegates and the Senate last week.

The result preserves most of the plan developed by Governor Ralph Northam and his Democratic colleagues and approved by the House, including a proposal to raise bonuses for deputy mayors and corrections officers from $1,000 to $3,000.

Both houses are expected to discuss the budget deal on Monday. It was not immediately clear when they would vote on the measure. Northam's spokeswoman, Alina Yarmosky, said the governor supports the budget settlement.

The settlement will spend most of Virginia's share of US rescue funding on initiatives aimed at helping small businesses, promoting mental health and substance abuse treatment, increasing broadband access, and replenishing the state's unemployment trust fund.

The senators wanted to raise the $1,000 bonus proposed in the Northam bill for mayors, the same amount the state police would receive under the Democratic plan. The conference committee approved a $3,000 bonus for deputies and corrections officers while retaining the $5,000 bonus pledged to state police.

 The DMV created the appointment system only for in-person services due to the pandemic.

The conference committee also retained the provision to establish regulations to allow student-athletes, including students at four-year colleges and two-year community colleges — to obtain compensation from outside parties for using their names, likenesses, and likenesses. In sponsorships, paid partnerships, and advertising. The Senate stripped that language.

The committee also agreed to retain an amendment that would extend a 12.5% ​​increase in the Medicaid rate for community service providers to people with developmental and intellectual disabilities.

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