Arkansas to use ARPA funds for COVID expenses in benefit plans

An Arkansas legislative panel on Oct. 14 endorsed the state Employee Benefits Division's request for $52.7 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to reimburse the state's public school and state employees and retirees' health insurance plans for COVID-19 related costs, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports. Arkansas' American Rescue Plan steering committee advanced the Employee Benefits Division's request for the federal funds without any audible dissenting votes.