Beebe Adds Lottery Restriction Proposal To Call For Special Session

by Talk Business & Politics staff ([email protected]) 82 views 

Gov. Mike Beebe has added another item to the call for a special session, which is slated to start on Monday, June 30.

Lawmakers have convinced Beebe that a bill to restrict the expansion of the Arkansas Lottery to add monitor games should also be on the call.

Legislators already have an agenda that includes modifications to the Public School Employees Insurance Fund and new money for prison overcrowding.

The public school employees insurance fund is looking at a $36 million funding shortfall. Lawmakers contend that the changes outlined will lead to increases in premiums for bronze level insurance plans, restrict part-time insurance participation and spouses of public school workers who have other insurance options, eliminate certain non-mandatory surgeries, such as gastric bypasses.

The prison funding change is expected to free up $6.3 million to open up state prison beds that are currently underfunded. There is presently a backlog in county jails of state prisoners.

Talk Business & Politics will update this story later today.