NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Lawmakers in Albany are hoping to start up a compensation fund for the families who lost loved ones inside nursing homes during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Assemblyman Ron Kim has been the main leader behind the effort to establish a $4 billion fund for the families, saying New York State made mistakes that need to be made right.
A bill he proposed in Albany would establish that, and more.
“It would create the nation's first Victim Compensation Fund for [COVID-19] victims, change New York's wrongful death statute and extend the statute of limitations to bring civil lawsuits,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
“We're allowing grieving families enough time to gather information at a time where Gov. Cuomo waived medical record keeping.”
Grieving families are hopeful that Gov. Kathy Hochul will provide them with the answers they are looking for, while Kim is hopeful that she can create a culture of change.
“Unless we fundamentally change the way our system monetarily values the elderly, nothing will change,” said the assemblyman.
Haydee Pabey spoke at the press conference on Wednesday, saying no amount of money would bring her mother back, but some funds could bring some peach and healing.
She said if lawmakers in Albany pass Kim’s bill, the New York State government would be “taking responsibility for what happened last year to my mother and thousands of seniors.”
Under the bill payouts would start at $250,000 per family, though Kim noted that amount is still being negotiated.
Related
