LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says the waiting list for people with developmental disabilities in need of state services has been reduced by 500 since a revenue stream was created earlier this year to reduce the waiting time.
Hutchinson told the Little Rock Rotary Club on Tuesday that the list had grown to about 3,000 people.
In January, Hutchinson signed a bill allowing the state to use $8.5 million from a 1999 settlement with tobacco companies to assist in providing more services home and community based services.
Arkansas is one of 46 states that sued tobacco companies for damages over money spent to treat smoking-related illnesses.
The state has received $62 million a year from the companies as part of the multi-state settlement.
Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.