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LANSING (AP) – Michigan will make more children eligible for child care subsidies, equip all state soldiers with body cameras, and make a pandemic wage increase permanent for home workers. nursing and other caregivers under the next state budget, ready for initial approval on Tuesday.
The bipartisan spending plan, which includes $ 2.7 billion in federal COVID-19 funding, will also increase payments for child care providers and allow them to award bonuses of $ 1,000 to new or existing staff. The state savings account will increase by $ 500 million.
As part of the deal, Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer agreed to a provision written by Republicans to prevent state and local governments from issuing coronavirus vaccine requirements that go beyond the plans outlined by President Joe Biden. He recently said the federal government would require injections for many healthcare workers and require employers with 100 or more employees to require them to get vaccinated or tested every week.
“We negotiated together in good faith”, the governor said at the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island. “This budget makes bold investments in Michigan families, in our communities and in our small businesses. “
The GOP-led legislature is expected to pass the plan in time to sign it by October 1, the start of the new fiscal year. Conference committees made public and swiftly moved the bills to the House and Senate floors on Tuesday. A $ 17 billion school aid budget was enacted in July.
Michigan will spend funds allocated to child care under the last two federal COVID-19 rescue laws. Much of it will help stabilize facilities affected by the pandemic. Other funds will extend eligibility for child care grants to 185% of the federal poverty level instead of 150% for two years, increase payments to providers who serve low-income children, and waive out-of-pocket expenses families.
Of the approximately 416,000 children eligible for payment assistance through the state care and development program, approximately 25,000 receive subsidized care. The state estimates that the expansion will qualify an additional 105,000 children, with approximately 6,000 new beneficiaries enrolling.
As businesses emerge from the pandemic, they need workers, state budget director Dave Massaron said.
“Child care is an important part of it, especially when you look at the data on working mothers. This investment is something we are all incredibly proud of ”, he said.
Infrastructure is another priority.
Michigan will spend about $ 200 million to replace or repair local bridges. Almost $ 20 million will be set aside to repair or remove dams following the catastrophic flooding in the Midland region in 2020. An additional $ 10 million will be used to replace lead pipes at Benton Harbor, where drinking water has exceeded federal limits for metal toxicants that can disrupt children’s brain development.
The budget includes $ 460 million to fund an hourly wage increase of $ 2.35 for “Direct care” workers, such as home health aides. They have been paid $ 2 or $ 2.25 more per hour since last year due to the pandemic. The plan will cover the salary with core funding, a signal that the hike will be permanent for years to come.
The budget also addresses police transparency by equipping all enlisted state police personnel with body cameras. About 200 soldiers, road transport agents and state property security officials currently have them because their work may not be captured by on-board cameras. But many don’t.
Universities and community colleges will get a small 1% increase in funding as well as a one-time 4% increase to partially offset a pandemic-related reduction from last fiscal year.
Several universities, including Michigan and the state of Michigan, have COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Republicans-backed budget language bars state and municipalities from requiring coronavirus vaccinations “Except as provided by federal law or as a condition for receiving federal Medicare or Medicaid funding.” “
Whitmer, who has repeatedly said she does not plan to impose the vaccine, generally agrees with the restrictions. But she could declare the language inapplicable to public universities because they are independent schools.
The spending legislation states that if government officials establish a vaccination policy due to the pending federal requirement, they must offer exemptions to people whose doctor certifies that it is harmful to their health or not appropriate. . Those who cite religious or other beliefs “Constant objection to vaccination” must also obtain exemptions.
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