RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia General Assembly has sped up funding for victims who were forcibly sterilized decades ago under a state program.
The News & Advance reports lawmakers made $400,000 available earlier than scheduled for the victims as part of its work on the state budget.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe must still approve the General Assembly's actions on the budget.
State officials say they have received 24 applications for the $25,000 per person payout for those sterilized in Virginia.
More than 7,000 Virginians were involuntarily sterilized between 1924 and 1979 under the Virginia Eugenical Sterilization Act.
