California passes $1.1 billion coronavirus emergency response package

Gov. Gavin Newsom late Monday secured $1.1 billion in emergency funds for the state’s fight against the rapidly spreading coronavirus that has infected hundreds of Californians and killed at least six.

The California Assembly approved the main funding bills freeing up money for the state’s coronavirus response on a 68-0 vote, and the Senate passed it on a 32-0 vote.

Lawmakers took up the bills in unusual circumstances. Newsom on Sunday advised Californians over age 65 to isolate themselves at home because of the new coronavirus’ potential to harm older people.

Several lawmakers over age 65 were absent and did not vote on the bills. They were excused by the Legislature’s leadership.

Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, said she was trying to both protect lawmakers and Capitol staff while advancing bills to help the public.

“The fact is that it can’t be business as usual and it can’t be no business at all. We have to find the balance between the two,” she said.

The larger of the spending bills lawmakers passed frees up $500 million, to be increased by $50 million as needed until reaching $1 billion, to lease and activate two hospitals, help public health officials access necessary equipment and lend support to hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities.

The funds would also assist local governments in keeping the coronavirus disease, called COVID-19, out of homeless communities and would provide hotel beds for the unsheltered.

Child care centers would be eligible for cleaning assistance. The bill also allocates money to programs that support senior residents who are supposed to stay in isolation.

“Our state, our nation, and our world are facing a challenge unprecedented in modern times,” Newsom said in a letter to the Assembly and Senate. “The COVID-19 pandemic compels us all to find new ways of coming together, even as we must also seek out new ways of staying apart.

The Assembly and Senate also were poised to approve an education budget bill that would give local school districts $100 million to buy materials and protective equipment. The legislation would allow districts, child care, charter networks and other programs to continue receiving state dollars even if they’ve closed due to COVID-19.

The budget allocation includes “intent language” that would help businesses and California workers who face economic repercussion and uncertainty. The details of that assistance will be filled out once the state gains a better understanding of how deep the financial losses will be.

Assemblyman Phil Ting, a San Francisco Democrat who chairs the Assembly Committee on Budget, said the money would give Newsom the “tools to fight this pandemic in our state.”

Republicans also overwhelmingly supported Newsom’s request.

“By taking this action, we are placing an extraordinary amount of trust in Gov. Gavin Newsom,” said Assemblyman Jay Obernolte, R-Big Bear Lake. “However, these are extraordinary times.”

The emergency budget bills finance efforts Newsom announced over the past week in executive orders that he’s declared to combat the pandemic.

Newsom has urged bars to close and asked for senior citizens — who are most vulnerable to the disease — to “self isolate.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended a 50-person gathering limit for the next eight weeks. President Donald Trump on Monday narrowed that recommendation to groups of 10 people.

This story was originally published March 16, 2020 at 3:09 PM with the headline "California passes $1.1 billion coronavirus emergency response package."