LET’S LISTEN IN. [CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY. VISIT NCICAP.ORG] GOV. SUNUN YEAH, BUSY NEWSDAY FROM HAMPTON, CALLING IN FROM HAMPTON BEACH. THAT IS FINE. IT IS THURSDAY. WE WANT TO WELCOME EVERYONE FOR JOINING US TODAY. BEFORE WE GET INTO OUR COVID-RELATED HEALTH UPDATE, I WANTED TO BRING FOLKS UP TO SPEED ON A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I SIGNED INTO LAW EARLIER TODAY SOMETHING THAT I AM VERY PROUD OF, SOMETHING THAT, I THINK, IN A BIPARTISAN WAY, I DO NOT ADVOCATE FOR BILLS VERY OFTEN, BUT THIS IS ONE WAS ON THE FRONT LINES WITH, HP 128 WHICH IS A PRESCRIPTION DRUG BILL THAT LOWERS THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THE LEGISLATION INJECTS TRANSPARENCY IN DRUG PRICING. WE KNOW WHEN THINGS BECOME TRANSPARENT ON THE PRICING SIDE, THAT ALWAYS HELPS TO LOWER COST, AND ALLOWED NEW HAMPSHIRE TO IMPORT LOW-COST PRESCRIPTION DRUGS FROM CANDIDA AND PUTS A PRICE CAP ON INSULIN, TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING ABLE TO AVOID LIFESAVING INSULIN. THIS BILL NOW MAKES THE COST OF INSULIN FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE CITIZENS THE LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT IS AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT, FRANKLY. WE ARE FIRST AND SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE HEARD ABOUT FOR SO LONG AND SUCH A DRIVER OF COST VARIANCE FOR SO MANY -- COST BARRIERS FOR SO MANY FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS, BUT THE PRICE OF INSULIN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IS THE LOWEST IN THE NATION. AS I SAID, A BIPARTISAN BILL, LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT. BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE MAKING SURE WE GOT IT DONE, AND I AM JUST PROUD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO SIGN THA BILL THIS MORNING AND MAKE IT A REALITY FOR THE CITIZENS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. WITH THAT, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DR. BETH DALY, WHO IS JOINING US FOR OUR HEALTH UPDATE. DR. DALY: THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. AFTERNOON, EVERYONE. I AM GOING TO PROVIDE THE PUBLIC HEALTH UPDATE TODAY. THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 13 MORE -- 13.5 MILLION CASE GLOBALLY OF COVID-19, AND HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, WE HAVE HAD 3.5 MILLION CASES WITH MORE THAN 137,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NUMBERS DO CONTINUE TO RISE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH MORE THAN 65,000 CASES IDENTIFIED EACH DAY, AND MOST STATES OUTSIDE OF NEW ENGLAND CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE INCREASES. THESE NUMBERS AR NOW DOUBLE OVER WHAT WE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS PAST SPRING. FORTUNATELY, HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, OUR CASE COUNTS HAVE REMAINED FAIRLY STABLE. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED 25 CASES EACH DAY. WE HAVE REPORTED AN ADDITIONAL 27 INFECTIONS, WHICH WILL BRING OUR TOTAL CASE COUNT HEREINAFTER -- HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO 6139 PEOPLE WITH COVID-19. I AM NOT REPORTING ANY NEW HOSPITALIZATIONS TODAY, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE ONE NEW DEATH TO HER, A RESIDENT OF A LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY. IN TERMS OF OUR OUTBREAKS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE HAVE NO NEW OUTBREAKS TO REPORT, AND WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CLOSE TWO OUTBREAKS IN LONG-TERM CARE. THESE OUTBREAK FACILITIES WE ARE CLOSING TODAY ARE BEDFORD HILLS AND HOLY CROSS IN MANCHESTE THIS LEAVES JUST THREE OUTBREAKS THAT REMAIN OPEN, BIRCH HILL, GREEN BRIAR, AND HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY NURSING HOME. SO WE CONTINUE TO WATCH WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE OUR CASES HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, AND WE JUST ASK YOU TO CONTINUE TO DO YOUR PART OF MAINTAINING YOUR SOCIAL DISTANCING, AVOIDING LARGE GATHERINGS, WEARING MASKS WHEN YOU ARE OUT IN PUBLIC AND YOU CANNOT SAFELY SOCI DISTANCE, WASHING YOUR HANDS, AND OF COURSE STAYING HOMES IF YOU DO EXPERIENCE ANY SYMPTOMS, AND SEEK TESTING. THANK YOU. GOV. SUNUNU: THANK YOU. GREAT JOB. SO A VARIETY OF LITTLE -- I DO NOT WANT TO SAY "LITTLE," THEY ARE ALL PRETTY SIGNIFICANT. I WANT TO MOVE THROUGH THREE OR FOUR DIFFERENT ITEMS OR TALK ABOUT, THAT I WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS. FIRST, AS WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING, THE S.E.L.F. FUND, THE SELF-EMPLOYED LIVELIHOOD FUND, WHICH IS AN EXTENSION OF THE MAIN STREET RELIEF PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES, BUT THIS FOCUSES ON SELF-EMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS IN THE STATE, THAT APPLICATION PROCESS WILL CLOSE -- IT HAS BEEN OPEN FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW, AND IT WILL CLOSE FOR TOMORROW. AGAIN, IF YOU ARE SELF-EMPLOYED, INTEREST IN A PLAN, GO TO REVENUE.NH.GOV. FAR, WE HAVE JUST SHY OF 7000 APPLICATIONS INTO THE SYSTEM, BUT IT WILL CLOSE OUT AS OF THE END OF DAY TOMORROW, SO YOU HAVE THROU FRIDAY TO GET YOUR APPLICATION IN ON THAT PROGRAM. SO THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE SECOND. WE HAVE THE MA STREET RELIEF FINE, WE HAVE THE SELF-EMPLOYMENT FUND FOR BUSINESSES, AND NOW THERE IS A THIRD FIND THAT WE OPENED AND DISCUSSED, BUT THE APPLICATION IS GOING TO LIVE, AND THAT IS THE BUSINESS AND FINANCE AUTHORITY, WHAT WE CALL THE GAP FUND PROGRAM. AGAIN, IT IS AN OFFSHOOT OF MAIN STREET RELIE AMBI SELF-EMPLOYMENT -- AND T SELF-EMPLOYMENT FUND. EXPERTS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, THIS IS A $30 MILLION FUND THAT ALLOWS THEM TO USE A LOT OF DISCRETION I DETERMINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER INDIVIDUALS OR BUSINESSES THAT HAVE FALLEN THROUGH THE CLASS WITH OTHER PROGRAMS. SO, FO EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE A NONPROFIT THAT DID NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS O THE NONPROFIT FUND, THE SELF-EMPLOYMENT LIKELIHO FIND, THE MAIN STREET FUND, THERE IS ANOTH PROCESS FOR YOU, AND THAT IS THE GAP FUND. THE APPLICATION PROGRESS WI BE -- PROCESS WILL BE OPEN NEXT TUESDAY AND RUN THROUGH AUGUST 4. THERE WILL BE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO APPLY FOR THAT PROCESS. IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE IN-DEPTH THAN WHAT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR THE FUNDS, JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE LOOKING TO KIND OF USE THAT DISCRETION. WHY DID A BUSINESS NOT QUALIFY? WHY WERE THEY LEFT OUT? MAYBE, FOR CERTAIN REASONS, THEY WERE EXCLUDED IF THEY PUT THE REVENUE IN WRONG OR THEY DID NOT TEST THE RIGHT INFORMATION THE FIRST TIME AROUND. WE ALWAYS WANT TO CREATE A BACKSTOP. DOWN THE ROAD, WE MAY HAVE MORE, BUT THE BFA G FUND WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANYONE WHO DID NOT RECEIVE FUNDS IN THE FIRST TWO ROUNDS. FRANCHISES CAN APPLY FOR THIS. NEW BUSINESS, RIGHT, WE DID NOT ALLOW BUSINESSES THAT WERE TWO NEW, THAT WERE OPEN WITHIN THE LAST HERE, TO APPLY FOR MAIN STREET. AGAIN, THIS IS FOR THOSE WHO DID NOT MEET T INITIAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, OR THEY CAN GO TO TH BFA.GOV OR THE GOFFE OF COURSE, BEGINNING NEXT TUESDAY. ALSO, ON ANOTHER NOTE, IF YOU REMEMBER A FEW WEEKS BACK, WE ANNOUNCE ABOUT $10 MILLION TO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF FEDERAL C.A.R.E.S. ACT FUNDS, FUNDING TO ALLOW FOR TECHNOLOGY UPGRADES AS TH UNIVERSITY TRANSFER TO A MORE REMOTE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS AND IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS. THEY HAVE MADE A LOT OF THOSE INVESTMENTS. THEY ARE DOING WELL GETTING THOSE SYSTEMS UP AND RUNNING. TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO ANNOUNCE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, SIMPLY TO HELP STUDENTS RETURN TO CAMPUS THIS FALL. THERE ARE LOT OF COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH STUDENTS COMING BACK TO THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, WHETHER BE KEENE STATE, PLYMOUTH, GRANITE STATE COLLEGE COME WERE OVER AT UNH. SO WE ARE PROVIDING A $19 MILLION GRANT TO HELP THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM, SO THAT THEY CAN ACCOUNT FOR MANY OF THE COSTS, WHETHER IT IS TESTING, PPE, OR SUPPLIES, A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT THINGS. I THINK THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM ITSELF HAS DONE A VERY GOOD JOB OUTLINING AND ANTICIPATING WHAT THESE COSTS WERE. THEY WORKED WITH THE BUDGET SLATE OF ADVISORY BOARD AS FAR A -- AS PART OF GOFFER, AND WE ARE INFUSING $19 MILLION AS PART OF OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. ALONG THE SAME LINES AS OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM. ONE OF THE NEEDS THAT WE SAW IN SOME OF THOSE FAMILIES THAT TRADITIONALLY WOULD GO OR ARE CURRENTLY WITHIN A COMMUNITY COLLEG SYSTEM, THEY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID, LIKE ANYBODY ELSE, MAYBE LOSING A JOB, OR WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE. TODAY, WE AR COMMITTING $6 MILLION TO THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM FOR TUITION SUPPORT. THIS FALL, THEY CAN BE EXISTING STUDENTS, NEW STUDENTS, BUT THAT IS A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO COVER COSTS FOR ANY STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE LOST FAMILY INCOME OR REVENUE OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE TO THEMSELVES, MAY, BECAUSE OF COVID, THEY ARE HAVING TROUBLE PAYING THOSE COSTS. WE REALLY WANT TO OPEN UP THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGE AS A REMINDER, WE HAVE SIMPLY ONE OF THE BEST COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AND THAT IS NOT JUST THE GOVERNOR TOUTING WHAT IS IN OUR HOME STATE. IF YOU LOOK AT OUR METRICS OF OUR COMMUNITY COLLEGES COMPARED TO ALMOST ANY OTHER SYSTEM ON THE EAST COAST, WE KNOCK IT OUT OF THE PARK. IT IS REALLY PHENOMENAL WHAT GOES ON IN THE SYSTEM. THE CONNECTIVITY THAT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS TO THE K-12, THE CONNECTIVITY IT HAS TO UNH AND THE REST OF THE COLLEGES WITHIN OUR UNIVERSITY SYSTEM. IN GOING THROUGH THIS FLUX, WE REALIZE IT IS ACTUALLY AN IDEAL TIME. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO MAY LOOK TO EITHER EARN A DIFFERENT DEGREE OR POTENTIAL, OPEN IT UP, NOT LET COST BE A BARRIER IF THEY HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY COVID. AND WE THINK THAT, AGAIN, THE $6 MILLION IN TUITION AND SCHOLARSHIP AID IS GOING TO GO A LONG WAY FOR INDIVIDUALS WITHIN OUR SYSTEM. TWO MORE THINGS. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD THING. I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS. WE FOCUS A LOT ON KIDS OVER THE LAST TWO OR THREE YEARS WE TALK ABOUT DCYF THE DIVISION OF CHILDREN, YOU COMMAND FAMILIES, BEING MORE PROACTIVE WITH HOURS OF I AND - YOUTH, AND FAMILIES, BEING MO PROACTIVE, AND KIDS THEMSELVES FALL THROUGH THE CRACK, AND THAT OFTEN COMES THE FORM OF OUR FOSTER CARE SYSTEM TO IT WE HAD A FOSTER CARE SYSTEM THAT WAS STRUGGLING FOR A LITTLE WHILE AND HAS REALLY MADE AN INCREDIBLE COMEBACK OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME, WE NOW HAVE MORE KIDS THAT LEAVE FOSTER CARE THAN ENTER FOSTER CARE. THAT IS A REALLY GREAT STATISTIC, AND WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE MORE FOLKS TO BE PART OF THOSE PROGRAMS, MORE FOLKS TO BE PART OF A SYSTEM TO HELP THESE KIDS THAT REALLY D NEED THAT, AT LEAST TEMPORARY SUPPORT, SOMETIMES LONG-TERM SUPPORTS AS WELL. SO, TODAY, WE ARE LAUNCHING A PROGRAM TO PROVIDE STIPENDS OF UP TO $500 PER CHILD OVER THE SUMMER TO ALLOW FOR FOSTER AND RELATIVE CAREGIVERS TO AFFORD ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE PROGRAMS. SO IT COULD BE FOR DAY CAMPS, OVERNIGHT CAMPS, IN-HOME CHILDCARE, IN-STAT TRIPS, RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HAMPERED THAT COULD LIMIT SOCIALIZATION’S, LIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SO MANY FAMILIES. THE C.A.R.E.S. ACT REALLY ALLOWS AN OPPORTUNITY ESPECIALLY AROUND THESE KIDS AND FAMILIES IN FOSTER CARE AND JUST GIVE THEM SOME OF THE SUPPORT SANDY OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY OTHERWISE MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD, AND OPPORTUNITIES OTHER FAMILIES ACROSS THE STATE DO NOT HAVE. THE PROGRAMS WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FOSTER AND ADOPTIVE ASSOCIATION, ANOTHER GREAT GROUP WE WORK WITH HERE AT THE STATE. DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE EARLY NEXT WEEK ON HOW TO APPLY, BUT THE WEBSITE GO TO WOULD-BE NHFA PA.ORG. AGAIN, A GREAT ASSOCIATION TO PROVIDE THESE STIPENDS AND JUST TO OPEN UP EVERYDAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THESE KIDS GOING THROUGH SOME TOUGH TIMES THE PROGRAM ITSELF HAS REALLY TURNED AROUND IN THE STATE, AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY, AND IF YOU WANT TO BE PART OF THE FOSTER CARE PROGRAM, AGAIN, EVEN GO TO NHFAPA AND GET MORE INFORMATION ON THE PATHWAY THAT MIGHT FIT YOU. AGAIN, THE PROGRAM REALLY DOES RUN VERY WELL. FINALLY, ONE LAST THING, AND THEN WE WILL OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS. EARLIER THIS WEEK, OUR OFFICE RECEIVED THE COVID-19 EQUITY TASK FORCE REPORT. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WANT TO THANK THE TASK FORCE MEMBERS. WE HAD ABOUT FIVE INDIVIDUALS, BELIEVE, ON THAT TASK FORCE. I SPOKE TO A FEW OF THEM. I WROTE THEM LETTERS AND SAID THANK YOU SO MUCH. THEY WORKED QUICKLY. THEY HANDLE A LOT O INFORMATION. A VERY WELL-WRITTEN REPORT WITH A LOT OF ACTION ITEMS AT THE BACK END. VERY THOUGHTFUL. CLEARLY WE HAD THE RIGHT PEOPLE ON THE JOB. I REVIEWED THE DRAFT RECOMMENDATIONS, AND WE WILL RELEASE THE INITIAL REPORT WITH OUR SET OF ACTIONS WE WERE GOING TO TAKE NEXT WEEK. WE HAVE REVIEWED IT ONCE OR TWICE. THERE ARE A LOT OF RECOMMENDATIONS. WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT NOW IS WHERE IS THAT LOW HANGING FRUIT, STUFF AND THE, STUFF THAT MIGHT BE CHALLENGED OR HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LEGISLATIVE ACTION. SOME ACTIONS THAT WE CAN IMPLEMENT ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, AND THAT IS THE GOOD NEWS. THIS I NOT ONE FOR TAKING QUICK ACTION WHERE WE CAN AND WHERE IT IS NECESSARY. AND LIKE SET, OTHERS MAY REQUIRE -- AND LIKE W SAID, OTHERS MAY REQUIRE FURTHER THOUGHT. IN A SIMILAR VEIN, THAT GROUP WAS LOOKING AT A LOT OF HEALTH CARE AND INEQUITIES POTENTIALLY WITHIN OUR SYSTEM, AND WE HAVE KNOWN THAT THEY HAVE EXISTED IN COVID-19, BECAUSE OF THE HEALTH-CARE CRISIS THAT HAS BEEN EXACERBATED. THAT HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF THAT TO THE FOREFRONT IN TERMS OF THE POTENTIAL INEQUITIES IN THOSE SYSTEMS, AND WE CAN MAKE SOME VERY, I THINK, POSITIVE STRIDES THERE. AT THE EXACT SAME TIME, WE HAVE THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED COMMISSION ON L ENFORCEMENT TRANSPARENCY, AND THEY ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO THEIR INITIAL REPORT AND THEIR FINDINGS. BUT EARLIER TODAY COME ALONG THAT SAME PATH, I WANT FOLKS TO KNOW I SIGNED ANOTHER BILL, ANOTHER, I THINK H A VERY IMPORTANT BILL, COMPREHENSIVE BILL, NOT THE ENDGAME, BY ANY MEANS, WHICH IS HB 1645. I KNOW ALL THE NUMBERS, THEY HAVE THEIR NUMBER SYSTEM WHAT IS IT? IT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE JUSTICE REFO BILL. IT HAD IMMEDIATE ACTIONS, SUCH AS WE TALKED ABOUT PROHIBITING CHOKEHOLDS, REQUIRING POLICE TO REPORT MISCONDUCT. ONE BIG ONE IS FURTHER REFORMING BAIL REFORM. BILL REFORM IS SOMETHING SUPPORTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, A BILL I SIGNED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. PRETTY EARLY ON, EVERYBODY REALIZED IT WAS NOT RIGHT. WE COULD HAVE DONE A BETTER JOB, AND WE REALLY TASK THE LEGISLATURE TO GO BACK, WORK WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND FIND BETTER SOLUTIONS, AND A LOT OF THOSE NEW REFORMS ARE IN THIS BILL AS WELL. WE HEARD FROM, YOU KNOW, CHEEK U I CAPANO HAS BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR BAIL REFORM, AND WE GOT NOT ALL OF I BUT A LOT OF IT IN. WE MAY HAVE TO KEEP ADJUSTING IT AGAIN. THERE’S NOTHING WRONG WITH GOING BACK AND CONSTANTLY CHALLENGING YOURSELF TO MAKE A BETTER SYSTEM. I WANT TO THANK A LOT OF THE FOLKS IN THE JAIL SYSTEM THAT WORKED WITH US TO FIND A BETTER WAY TO DO IT. WE FEEL VERY CONFIDENT THAT 1645 IS DEFINITELY TAKING US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND WE WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY INVOLVED.