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Perdue, a Democrat who is not seeking re-election, said the money would be used for $50,000 payments to verified victims of the former N.C. Eugenics Board program, which sterilized more than 7,000 residents for nearly 50 years. Some of the money would fund operations of the N.C. Justice for Sterilization Victims Foundation, an outreach and clearinghouse agency.

“We cannot change the terrible things that happened to so many of our most vulnerable citizens, but we can take responsibility for our state’s mistakes and show that we do not tolerate violations of basic human rights,” Perdue said in a statement. “We must provide meaningful assistance to victims, so I am including this funding in my budget.”

The request is based upon the recommendations of the Eugenics Compensation Task Force, which called for a tax-free, lump sum payment to living eugenics patients and those who were alive when their cases were verified. Future appropriations may be required if additional victims are identified and verified.

“I highly commend the governor for taking the experiences of victims to heart while developing a package that...