H192 - COVID Response/Supplemental Spending 2020-21

• Appropriates $695.1 million in General Fund supplemental spending for FY 2020-2021 to support COVID-19 relief, state agency operations, and pandemic recovery efforts.

• Provides $357 million in employee compensation bonuses: $280 million for qualifying public school employees ($2,500 each), $77 million for noncertified school employees ($1,500 each), and $111 million for community college and UNC employees ($2,000 each).

• Allocates $50 million for hazard pay to correctional officers and law enforcement, $64.5 million for State Health Plan COVID-19 expenses, and $20 million to the Office of Historically Underutilized Businesses for minority and women-owned business recovery grants.

• Increases unemployment insurance benefits: raises maximum weekly benefit from $350 to $500 for new claims filed after February 20, 2021, and extends maximum benefit duration to 26 weeks for claims filed after November 28, 2020.

• Appropriates federal funds under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, including $603.7 million for COVID testing and prevention, $335.9 million for child care assistance, and $258.9 million for highway infrastructure; waives ABC permit renewal fees through April 30, 2022.