$335 checks for NC parents to become law; Gov. Cooper signing COVID-19 relief bill
Gov. Roy Cooper said Friday he will sign a nearly $1 billion coronavirus relief package into law.
House Bill 1105, labeled the Coronavirus Relief Act 3.0, was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly Thursday. It includes a $335 stimulus check for parents with children younger than 18 to help offset remote learning costs.
“This budget followed my recommendations on school enrollment funding and invested in important areas like high speed internet access and disaster relief, but legislators should have done more to expand Medicaid, support small businesses, pay our educators, assist with rent and utilities relief and further help unemployed North Carolinians,” Cooper said in a statement.
“Obviously I don’t agree with every provision, but the funding for pandemic support in this budget is critical and must move forward.”
The bill passed the Republican-controlled legislature nearly unanimously, with a 44-5 vote in the Senate and a 104-10 vote in the House. Several Democrats voiced their frustration that the state again would not be expanding Medicaid.
Cooper also said he would sign House Bill 807, the NC Championship Act, into law. The law will fund economic incentives for an unnamed development project.
Stimulus checks for parents
The stimulus check for parents is a flat amount per household, regardless of the number of children.
Senate leader Phil Berger, who called the stimulus check for parents an “extra credit grant,” said Wednesday that those who filed tax returns this year would automatically receive a check. Those who did not file tax returns would be able to fill out an application.
“Nobody can honestly say that virtual learning is adequate, and parents are filling the breach are doing a great job,” Berger said. “I really am not worried about how parents will spend that $335. They need it, they deserve it and what better use of taxpayer dollars.”
Other spending
The state faced a deadline of Dec. 30 to designate the money from the federal CARES Act. Lawmakers were hoping to get more flexibility on spending from Congress before the session, but did not, so they convened in early September and allocated some $903 million.
The relief bill boosts unemployment benefits by $50 per week.
It includes $72 million in funding for personal protective equipment, $10 million for internet connectivity and $6 million for food banks, The News & Observer previously reported.
Democrats and Republicans both praised the bill’s broadband internet funding, but Democrats also said there should be more.
The bill also provides an added pay incentive for people to work at election polling places, as some counties struggle to recruit poll workers. It provides an extra $100 in pay for every poll worker who serves on Election Day.
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This story was originally published September 4, 2020 at 5:41 PM with the headline "$335 checks for NC parents to become law; Gov. Cooper signing COVID-19 relief bill."
