Whitmer Signs Bill Increasing Hazard Pay For Some Workers

MICHIGAN — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday signed Senate Bill 690, which appropriates nearly $880 million in federal funding to support various coronavirus response actions across the state. The bill in part will increase hazard pay to some front-line workers.

The supplemental budget includes a number of provisions that assist the state in responding to the pandemic, help small business weather the economic conditions created by the coronavirus and ensure that workers who put themselves at risk on the front lines are fairly compensated, according to a news release.

“I was pleased to sign this bill to put more federal funding to work across our state,” Whitmer said in a statement. “Between the signing of this bill today and the recent agreement on the 2020 budget announced earlier this week, we have now put the full amount of the federal Coronavirus Relief Fund to use so that Michiganders can reap the full benefit of our federal funding. Now, we need Congress to act later this month and provide additional aid to the states so that we can begin to address the budget shortfall in 2021.”

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The additions include:

• A $2/hour increase for direct care workers
• $125 million in grant funding to reduce the cost of child care for families
• $100 million for hazard pay for local first responders and $200 million for local units of government
• $100 million in small business restart grants
• $60 million in rental assistance and eviction diversion
• $25 million for wireless hotspots and enhanced connectivity
• $18 million for health and safety grants for schools
• $10 million in MIOSHA grants for protections to keep workers safe on the job
• $14 million for food banks and domestic violence shelters

The budget funds a $60 million eviction diversion program developed jointly by Whitmer and the Supreme Court Administrative Office. Officials said the program keeps renters in their homes by ensuring that landlords receive quick lump sum payments for back rent and will be implemented in collaboration with local stakeholders and aid organizations.

"We applaud our Governor and legislators for working together to secure funding and create programming for what we believe is crucial to the health and safety of our state - keeping vulnerable Michiganders in their homes,” said Eric Hufnagel, Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness Executive Director. “With this support, our communities will keep thousands of families that have been hit the hardest by COVID-19 from the painful experience of eviction and homelessness.”

Read More: Oakland County Launches Program To Help Those Behind On Rent