April 10, 2020
A lot has been happening at the state and federal level in response to COVID-19. Below is a breakdown of major legislation and actions that have passed, been implemented, or are moving through Congress or the state General Assembly, so far. Arkansas Advocates for Children Families will work to keep you updated on policy news at the end of each week.
Click here to see AACF’s short-term recommendations for addressing the crisis at the state level. More pandemic-related blogs and publications are available here.
State Updates
General Assembly Meeting in Fiscal Session
On Wednesday, the Arkansas General Assembly convened to consider the state’s budget for Fiscal 2021, which begins in July. Lawmakers are considering a proposed $5.89 billion general revenue budget but expect only $5.68 billion in revenue, so they’re outlining what spending would take priority. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette broke down the General Assembly’s draft budget priorities in this story.
A resolution from Senator Linda Chesterfield would have delayed the implementation of income tax cuts passed last year, but it failed.
There were two proposals to expand access to absentee voting during the pandemic. An amendment to the Secretary of State’s office funding bill from Senator Joyce Elliott would have allowed voters to cast absentee ballots without being required to provide a reason. It failed in a committee vote yesterday. Another proposal by Representative Jim Dotson would have allowed “no-excuse” absentee ballots only if the Governor still had an emergency declaration in place. He withdrew his proposal.
The session will resume on Monday, and you can stream it live on PBS Arkansas’s ARCAN or at the Legislature’s website.
Economic and State Revenue Forecast
The coronavirus pandemic has reduced state revenue, first by $350 million in FY20 and then more than $200 million in FY21. Sadly the underlying numbers, particularly worse than expected sales tax revenue, indicate that this is just the beginning and that the state’s fiscal condition will likely get much worse before it gets better.
Spread to Group Quarters
This week, positive cases of COVID-19 have been found in congregate settings other than nursing homes, having spread to the state mental hospital and prisons. The Department of Human Services said that visitors have been prohibited from the State Hospital since March 12th. However, at least six patients have tested positive for the virus. Employees are required to be screened upon entry at the facility. At the federal prison in Forrest City, 24 inmates and five staff had tested positive as of Wednesday. Officials from the Centers for Disease Control arrived at the facility this week. So far, there have been no reported cases in state prisons. Newly incarcerated persons are being quarantined when they enter a facility, and visitors are not allowed.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Last week, Arkansas received its first shipment of personal protective equipment from the state’s procurement efforts, including gloves, masks, and hand sanitizer. Arkansas currently has just short of 800 ventilators and between 500-550 are not being used right now.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is chartering a flight from overseas that will deliver a 30-day supply of personal protective equipment to Arkansas, according to UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson.
Medicaid Coverage Changes
The Arkansas Department of Human Services has modified policies that have, over the years, kicked tens of thousands of people off the state’s Medicaid program. Roughly 11,000 Arkansans who lost coverage in March have now had their Medicaid coverage reinstated, with more expected to come. More details can be found on the Arkansas Times blog.
Medicaid Waiver Not Yet Approved
Governor Hutchinson announced this week the state has not received approval from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for his March 26th request to receive $116 million in Medicaid funds for Arkansas’s COVID-19 response. The planned increased payments for healthcare workers is included in this request.
Increasing Access to Testing
To help increase access to testing in rural areas of the state, UAMS now has a mobile testing unit that began testing in Helena-West Helena. A list of testing sites is available here.
Schools Closed for Year
On Monday, the Governor announced that on-site education around the state will be closed for the remainder of the school year, and instruction will continue online through Alternative Methods of Instruction (AMI) and digital learning. At the Governor’s Press Conference, Secretary of Education Johnny Key said some school districts, with the help of the Department of Education, will be looking at ways to expand internet services, while students continue to learn through AMI. Key said school districts can also continue to provide meals for students if health guidelines are maintained. He also said that districts must be flexible with at-home education and acknowledge the amount of learning that can feasibly be done at home, while providing clear direction to teachers. Students will be able to take their Advanced Placement tests online.
City Stay at Home Orders
City governments do not have the authority to issue stay at home orders according the Governor, because they do not have the authority to block commerce, which the state believes stay at home orders would do. However, the Governor has amended his executive order to allow cities to implement curfews and cities and counties to close parks, as long as they do not block commerce. Both the City of Benton and Saline County have enacted a stay at home policy for minors, beginning April 3rd. The Governor stated that the orders were in compliance with his executive order, as they do not block commerce.
Federal Updates
Unemployment at All Time High
For the second week in a row, the Department of Labor announced that 6.6 million people applied for unemployment benefits around the country, bringing the total to over 16.78 million. However, because of backlogs in processing applications, the numbers could be much higher, and new applications continue to be filed. The federal Department of Labor released guidance for states this week on how to provide unemployment insurance to gig workers and people who are self-employed. People who fall under these categories should soon be able to access unemployment benefits.
2020 Census
Arkansas has fallen behind the national average on response to the 2020 Census. As of Friday, 44.1 percent of our state’s households had participated either online or on the phone. That compares to 47.1 percent nationally. You can keep up with our response rate here, down to the county and city levels. On this site, you can see our cities and counties ranked by how well they’re responding. We’re all looking for creative ways to promote census participation during a time when social distancing prevents us from some of the in-person contact we were hoping would take place this month. A complete count is critical to ensure adequate funding of many services for children and families, from health care to education. Help us get the word out. Arkansas Advocates has created a list of resources for your census outreach.
Resources
Bank On Arkansas+
For individuals and families without bank accounts who would like to open an account to receive federal emergency payments more quickly, Bank On Arkansas+, connects individuals with banks and credit unions that offer checking accounts that are certified safe, affordable and provide direct deposit to receive payments electronically. You can find more information here.
Applying for Unemployment Insurance: There is a new option of applying for unemployment insurance online or by phone. You can apply here.
Applying for Medicaid, ARKids First (children’s health insurance), or SNAP (formerly known as food stamps): The Department of Human Services has made changes encouraging the public to avoid in-person visits to DHS county offices and is allowing fewer people in the lobbies at the same time, increasing wait times. People are encouraged to apply online at www.Access.Arkansas.gov or to use the phone application option by calling 1-855-372-1084. County offices will be installing drop-off boxes for paper applications. And required SNAP interviews may be conducted by phone rather than in person.
WIC (nutrition assistance program for Women, Infants and Children): Contact your county Department of Health office for information on how to apply.
Department of Health Updates: You can get the latest COVID-19 updates from the Department of Health here.
Finding a food pantry: Some pantries may be closed, so call ahead to confirm.
Arkansas Foodbank pantry map
Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas food pantry network
Harvest Regional Food Bank (Texarkana)
Food Bank of North Central Arkansas
Northwest Arkansas Food Bank
River Valley Regional Food Bank
Marshallese Education Initiative COVID-19 Page: For information on COVID-19 for the Marshallese community.
Arkansas Kids Count Virtual Policy Conversations
Early Childhood Education and Care
When: Tuesday, April 14th, from 10:00am-11:00am
Where: Zoom video and audio conference
Join the Arkansas Kids Count Coalition for a virtual policy discussion on early childhood education and care. We will talk about the challenges facing the early childhood sector during the pandemic, and how these challenges highlight long-term policy concerns of the field. We will be joined by Jamie Ward with Curricula Concepts, Jackie Govan, Head Start State Collaboration Office Director, and Geania Dickey with dot2dot Consulting. Jamie, Jackie, and Geania will start off with an overview of the current policy landscape, but the majority of the conversation will be dedicated to a discussion with participants.