State Representative Lipper-Garabedian Supports $101 Million COVID-19 Spending Bill
BOSTON- February 14, 2022 – On February 12, 2022, Governor Baker signed into law a bill supported by State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian (D-Melrose) that invests $101 million in COVID-19 recovery with investments in rapid testing and testing sites, high-quality masks, and vaccination equity for public schools, congregate care facilities, health care workers, and homeless shelters as well as additional funding for the State’s COVID-19 sick leave program. The law further extends through July 15 certain pandemic flexibilities including those related to emote notarization and reverse mortgage counseling for seniors, remote and reduced quorum
town meeting, and remote shareholder and board of director meetings.
“I’m pleased to support a host of critical investments in the new law that will aid the Commonwealth at this time,” said State Representative Kate Lipper-Garabedian. “I especially value the attention on our children and educators in early education settings and K-12 public schools in addressing the ongoing pandemic.”
The bill includes:
• $50 million to establish and expand COVID-19 testing at community health centers, regional vaccination clinics, urgent care centers, elementary and secondary public schools, charter schools, educational collaboratives, early education and care programs, congregate care facilities, early intervention programs, and homeless shelters, which includes
—$5 million to increase youth vaccination rates
—$5 million to support expanded infrastructure and staff capacity at community health centers to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in communities with low vaccination rates
• $25 million for the acquisition and distribution of high-quality masks for children, staff, and faculty in K-12 schools and early education and care programs; personnel and residents in congregate care facilities including nursing facilities; health care workers; staff in early intervention programs; and homeless shelters
• $25 million the COVID-19 Massachusetts Emergency Paid Sick Leave Program
• $1 million for a Department of Unemployment Assistance public relations campaign related to appeal rights for unemployment insurance benefits overpayments
• A provision scheduling the statewide primary election on Tuesday, September 6
• A provision extending certain pandemic flexibilities for remote open meetings, virtual notarization, and virtual reverse mortgage counseling for seniors
“I am also glad to see the provision relating to virtual reverse mortgage counseling for seniors included in this bill,” said Representative Lipper-Garabedian. “It is a policy I have been championing in a standalone bill and as House Vice Chair of the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs.”