Daily Legislative Update
Monday, January 11, 2010
87th General
Assembly—Budget Session
BILL FILING BEGINS TODAY
Today is the first day legislators can file bills for the Budget Session. The deadline for filing Concurrent Resolutions for non-appropriation bills, which would require a two-thirds vote before considering the merits of the bill, is Monday, February 8. The deadline for filing appropriation and non-appropriation bills is Monday, February 22. It would require a two-thirds vote to extend this filing deadline.
The Budget Session is limited to 30 days but could be extended one time for 15 days on a three-fourths vote. March 9 would be the 30th day of the session and March 24 would be the 45th and final day the Budget Session could meet.
Rumors are currently consistent that only a couple of pre-determined bills will be considered that go beyond the actual budget and it is possible the session could recess in less than 30 days.
Once the Budget Session begins on February 8, it is anticipated that the legislative schedule for each week will include Joint Budget Committee meetings on Mondays, followed by other needed committee meetings and House and Senate floor sessions on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The State Chamber/AIA will produce periodic “Daily Legislative Updates” during the bill filing period prior to February 8 and will then produce the report daily until the Budget Session recesses. We are prepared to track bills and will report any bills tracked in the daily updates as well as post the “tracked bills” list on our web site. Historically we have not tracked many budget related bills; therefore if few non-budget related bills are filed we may have very few bills to track.
BUDGET ISSUES
Last Monday was the deadline for the “Big Six” and other state agencies to submit budget request recommendations. Today, Governor Mike Beebe announced his acceptance of the state Department of Finance and Administration’s (DFA) recommendation to trim another $106 million from the current fiscal year’s budget. Beebe had previously cut this fiscal year’s budget by $100 million in October 2009. Here is information on the budget released by the Governor’s office today:
“Due to continued shortfalls in State revenues, Governor Mike Beebe has accepted a recommendation by the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration to cut the state budget by an additional $106 million for the current fiscal year. The governor's proposed balanced budget for Fiscal Year 2011, which will be detailed by DF&A officials on Tuesday, anticipates a return to current budget levels on July 1. ‘Arkansans are being increasingly cautious with their money, and our government must reflect that in our use of tax dollars,’ Beebe said. ‘While we still foresee a recovery for our State economy, our spending must match the pace of that recovery to keep our budget balanced.’ The revised forecast means a 2.4 percent budget reduction across-the-board. Other education funds will be used to protect public education and adequacy requirements. Rainy-day funds and other set-asides will be used to lessen the impact of the cuts for the Departments of Human Services, Correction and Community Corrections.”
The Joint Budget Committee will begin meeting tomorrow. DFA will present its general revenue forecast and executive balanced budget for fiscal year 2011 at 10 a.m. and after lunch, Institutions of Higher Education will make presentations on budget recommendations.
On Wednesday, the Department of Public Education, Department of Correction and Department of Community Corrections will make presentations to the Joint Budget Committee in regard to their budgets.
Thursday’s Joint Budget Committee hearing will include presentations by the Department of Health and Department of Human Services.
CONTACT INFORMATION
When Legislature is in session:
State Senators: 501-682-2902
State Representatives: 501-682-6211
State Chamber/AIA Staff
adelille@arkansasstatechamber.com
State Chamber/AIA phone: (501) 372-2222
State Chamber/AIA web site: www.arkansasstatechamber.com
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