CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - Nearly 5,000 retired public employees would get $266 payments under an amended bill approved by the House of Delegates Finance Committee.

The original bill, sought by Gov. Joe Manchin as part of his special session agenda, would have paid $500 bonuses to active state employees using unspent money from last fiscal year at a cost of $34.7 million.

The finance committee amended the bill Wednesday to include $13.3 million for retiree bonuses.

The panel also added $11.1 million to the sum set aside for state employees, so that higher education workers can be included in the $500 bonuses.

If the House approves the amended bill, it would go to the Senate, which approved the original version of the bill on Tuesday.

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