Backroads & Backstories: Telephone Town Hall

In this episode of Backroads & Backstories, Senator Paul Bailey is joined by government officials in a live Telephone Town Hall to discuss key topics like the current state of public education, help for small businesses, and unemployment. The group included Tyler Asher, Director of the Small Business Development Center, Jeff McCord, Commissioner at the TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Kurt Dronebarger, Director of White County Schools, Mark Farley, Executive Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District, and Rusty Felts, Assistant Commissioner of TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development.

Links:

About the Guests

  • Jeff McCord: Commissioner – TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development 
  • Rusty Felts: Assistant Commissioner – of TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development 
  • Mark Farley: Executive Director – Upper Cumberland Development District 
  • Tyler Asher: Director – Small Business Development Center 
  • Kurt Dronebarger: Director – White County Schools  
  • Ryan Burrell of Spry Strategies, Moderator

Transcript

Announcer: On this special episode of Backroads and Backstories, we invite you to listen to a recording of a recent telephone town hall hosted by Senator Paul Bailey. During the town hall, Senator Bailey, along with special guests – Commissioner; Jeff McCord and Assistant Commissioner Rusty Felts of the TN Department of Labor & Workforce Development; Mark Farley, Executive Director of the Upper Cumberland Development District; Tyler Asher: Director of Small Business Development Center; And Kurt Dronebarger, Director White County Schools, discuss important current issues for the Upper Cumberland, including unemployment, help for small businesses, and public education. The town hall was moderated by Ryan Burrell of Spry Strategies.

Host Ryan: We got a poll question tonight friends, and we just simply want to know whether you are more concerned with the economic impact of COVID-19 or the health impact of COVID-19. But first, we got a question from Donnie in Putnam County. And Donnie’s got a question we all have on our hearts. And that’s the governor had said to reopen the state, and just what is the latest information concerning that, guys?

Senator Bailey: Well, thank you, again, this is Senator Bailey, Ryan for that question. So, the governor announced late this afternoon that restaurants can begin opening on April the 27th with 50 percent capacity, and then on April 29, retail businesses will be able to begin opening their businesses. Tomorrow he will be announcing further guidelines relative to other businesses and how they will be able to open safely.

Host Ryan: Excellent. Just want to throw out another question from Tina in Monterey. And Tina wants to know how long it’s going to take to get the latest SBA loans from the federal government.

Senator Bailey: I’m going to throw that question over to Tyler Asher. Tyler, if you don’t mind, you can jump in and answer that question.

Dir. Asher: Thank you. Senator Bailey, I’d be happy to answer that. We are fully expecting—the House did pass the bill this afternoon—they fully expect the president to sign off on it tomorrow. We were told to be expecting funding the first part of next week, that they would start allowing the Payroll Protection Loans to start being processed again. And then, of course, the Economic Injury Disaster Loans would begin to get processed again.

Host Ryan: Okay, we’ve got another question from Danny, and Danny would like to know where the best local state resources are concerning all of the topics tonight, SBA loans and Paycheck Protection Program.

Senator Bailey: Mark, you or Tyler could jump in again and answer that question.

Exec. Dir. Farley: I’m going to jump in first and then I’ll turn it over to Tyler. Obviously, there is a lot of programs being pushed down from the federal level that’ll be flowing through state government. Some of those have already hit and come on board. But we still expect many, many more programs to be established over the next coming weeks. So, obviously, your regional agencies, the Upper Cumberland Development District, the Upper Cumberland Human Resource Agency will have access to a lot of that information. We may or may not actually administer those, but we can certainly point you in the direction of where the newest and latest programs are at. As far as SBA, you’re probably going to see just a continuation of the two main programs. Tyler, do you have anything to add on that?

Dir. Asher: You will find a lot of information on the SBA’s main webpage, also the Tennessee Small Business Development Center webpage or any of their social media outlets. And then, if you have really specialized questions, feel free to reach out to me directly and we will get you an answer.

Host Ryan: Okay, great, we’ve got—

Senator Bailey: [crosstalk]

Host Ryan: —questions lining up here. Sorry, Senator?

Senator Bailey: No, I’m just saying I just want to make sure that everyone understands that Mark and Tyler are at the Upper Cumberland Development District in Cookeville, so they’re definitely local to be able to help our local businesses.

Host Ryan: Outstanding. We’re going to go to Bill Barnhill. Bill, you’re on live.

Bill Barnhill: Yes. Hi, Bill Barnhill here. Just curious when all of the applications for the unemployment program are going to be processed. I know my daughter, I’m speaking for her, she applied up in Cookeville about four weeks ago and she’s still not heard back.

Senator Bailey: Commissioner, would you like to jump in there on that one?

Commr. McCord: Yeah, let me do this first and then I’ll kick it to Rusty for any other. So, the program for our traditional unemployment insurance that has been traditionally functioning is the same as it’s been, with the addition of a $600 adder from the federal government.

And then the other major one is the unemployment insurance that’s been expanded to sole proprietors and 1099 employees, and so I’m not sure which one of those she’s with, but let me answer a question for both of them, then I’ll kick it to Rusty. The first one is, so far this week there’ve been 225,000 people that have received payments on their claims and without knowing her specific situation and the nuances of that I can’t speak to her specifically, but there is a lot of people being paid or receiving benefits from the traditional claims. The other one for the 1099 employees and the sole proprietors—it’s called Pandemic Unemployment Assistance—those claims, we had to build the system to make sure those claims could get processed. And those claims will start to be processed and distributed for benefits starting tomorrow. And so, I’m not sure if that gets your question completely, but let me take it to Rusty to finish out that answer.

Asst. Commr. Felts: Yes, so that’s a good question. Normally, the federal government—our funding body requires that we pay people that are eligible for benefits within a 21-day timeliness period. And I never like having to use the word that depends, but Commissioner McCord is exactly right. It depends on which program, that specific scenario falls under.

If it was regular covered wages, it could just be due to volume, or an answer back from the employer perhaps, that caused us to have to re-look at the claim. There’s so many different scenarios, it’s hard to speak to specifics. If it falls under the 1099 self-employed, in the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. Those have taken us a little longer, for obvious reasons, because it’s a program that’s never been administered before through unemployment. And I was just reading a document that said there’s been 22 million claims filed in this country since March 14. So, again, it could be to volume, but we are getting that program stood up, and expect to be paying those over the weekend for the first time.

Host Ryan: That’s great. We’re going to go to Sarah Rector today. She’s a Pikeville salon owner. Sarah, welcome to the town hall.

Sarah Rector: Hi. Yes, my name is Sarah Rector—

Senator Bailey: Hi Sarah, how can we—

Sarah Rector: Yeah, I own a salon, actually, in Crossville and I live in Pikeville, but I was wondering, do they classify salons with retail when he’s talking about reopening with phasing in? Because we haven’t heard anything about salons. They just keep saying retail and restaurants.

Senator Bailey: Yes, ma’am. So, under the Department of Commerce and Insurance is where cosmetology, barbershops are licensed, and they are currently working on some guidelines to be able to give to salons, barbers, tattoo parlors, and so forth, for you to be able to reopen.

Obviously, you’re working directly with a customer, you’re touching that customer, you’re totally in their personal space if you will. So, with that being said, the department is working very hard to try to bring those guidelines to give to you so that you can get open as quickly as possible. Everyone knows that has seen me, they realize I need a haircut too.

Host Ryan: [laughs]. All right, we’re going to go to Natasha Langford. Natasha got a question about student loans. Natasha, you’re live.

Natasha Langford: Yes. Um, I have student loans from Tennessee Tech. And I was wondering when those will restart—you can restart paying in those. Or are they—I’ve heard they’re all still September. Is that true, or is it just one payment?

Senator Bailey: This is Senator Bailey, and Natasha, what my understanding is, is those payments have been deferred until September, so you’ll not have to make any of those until September and that was deferred by the federal government.

Host Ryan: That’s great. Thank you so much. And we’re going to go to Brian [Paret]. He’s got a question about unemployment benefits. Brian, you’re on live, sir.

Brian Paret: Hey, guys, can you hear me?

Host Ryan: Yes, sir.

Senator Bailey: Yes, sir.

Brian Paret: Okay. My question was, A lot of folks around the Cookeville areas, pay has been reduced, depending on which manufacturing company that they work for, by a certain percentage. And I was just wondering if any of those unemployment benefits could be attained due to that, or do you have to be fully unemployed to gather any of those benefits?

Commr. McCord: So, this is Jeff McCord, I’m going to kick that to Rusty, too, because I know he’ll have a very succinct answer for you.

Asst. Commr. Felts: Okay, so that’s an excellent question. We get asked that a lot because there’s a lot of confusion about the program. And the way it works is this: if your hours have been reduced, you could possibly be eligible for benefits. And under this new CARES act, if you are eligible for $1 of unemployment in a week, then you also get the additional $600 that goes with it. However, the rules of unemployment still dictate that. So, for instance, if you are having your hours cut, but you’re still making more than you would draw on unemployment, then you’re not eligible for unemployment, or the additional $600.

So, the best thing to do, the answer is, if you’ve had your hours cut, and you file an unemployment claim, you’ll get what’s called a monetary determination. And that monetary determination will tell you exactly what you’re set up to draw. If you’re making more, even working part-time, than you’re set up to draw for unemployment, then you wouldn’t be eligible for the benefits. But that is an excellent question.

Host Ryan: Okay, we’re going to move on and go to Mr. [Hodge]. Mr. Hodge, you’re on live, sir.

Mr. Hodge: Yes, I’d love to know about the people who draws unemployment. Were the social security, whether they’re going to need it or not?

Senator Bailey: Mr. Hodge, what’s your specific question there again? Are you saying that if you draw Social Security, are you eligible for unemployment? If that’s your question?

Host Ryan: Yeah. He went back to the queue. That’s what he was asking, sir.

Asst. Commr. Felts: Okay, so that’s another good question. Anytime you file for unemployment, one of the standard questions is, are you drawing any sort of additional income, and the department will look at that income and make a decision on whether you’re eligible or not. And while that seems like a very wide-range answer, it’s because we have to address pensions, whether they were paid by [unintelligible] employer or not, and all the different factors of that particular situation. So, if you file for unemployment, just make sure and answer that question that you are drawing Social Security, and we will make a determination.

Host Ryan: Guys, we’re going to Pearl Jackson, Pearl, you’re on live.

Pearl Jackson: Hi, I just got a question. My husband and I, we’re on Medicare, and we don’t have to do taxes, so are we going to be entitled to the stimulus checks also?

Senator Bailey: Yes ma’am, you are.

Pearl Jackson: Now, do they just deposit it into our accounts, just like our Medicare checks go in automatic deposit?

Senator Bailey: Yes, ma’am, that is my understanding. Of course, we’re talking more on the state level, and I know many of you have questions in regards to the stimulus money that’s coming down from the federal government and I certainly don’t want to put any of the other members of the call on the spot, but my understanding is, is that that would be directly deposited into your account if you’re currently receiving benefits from the federal government into a bank.

Host Ryan: Thanks so much Pearl, and also you can find great information on whitehouse.gov, and if you have a question about the health aspect of Coronavirus, the cdc.org has the most up to date information. Um, okay, we’re going to go to Betty Smith.

Betty Smith: Hello.

Host Ryan: Hi Betty. What’s your question, ma’am?

Betty Smith: Well, I was asked which situation I would be the most interested in, whether it would be the financial situation or the medical situation of this opening the businesses, and I’m sympathetic to the people that might suffer from the medical situation. We’re a strong country, and we help people out, and I think that people are scared right now, they’ve never endured this before, but we’ll get along, and it’ll get worked out. But if you get the medical situation and you don’t survive, that is a terrible thing that cannot be worked out. And—

Host Ryan: So, thank you so much for that uplifting answer and again, if you’re having medical questions, then go to the cdc.org. One thing that I think, from her question, should be asked is what they’re going to be doing concerning state employment requirements to keep healthy. Do we have anybody that can answer that question?

Senator Bailey: Well, I think that we need to follow the CDC guidelines, we need to continue to wash your hands, we need to make sure that we sanitize any surfaces that we come in contact with, and I think we need to encourage all of our businesses to do the same thing.

Host Ryan: That’s great. We’re going to go with [Harlan] from—excuse me, sorry, did you have another follow-up?

Senator Bailey: Well, one question that’s come across and, Ryan, I just wanted to bring Mr. Dronebarger in from the school aspect of it, regarding end-of-school-year. Many parents out there are concerned about what, especially if they have a senior, whether they’re going to have a senior prom, if there’s going to be graduation, what sports going to be like in the summer, and then how we will restart our next school year. So, I’d like to bring Mr. Dronebarger, and if we could, and let him address that.

Dir. Dronebarger: Yes, thank you, Senator. I met recently with all the directors from the Upper Cumberland region, and we discussed those very things. I can’t speak specifically for every district, I do have some data here, but in a nutshell most of the directors felt like prom was just an unnecessary risk at this point, just the unknown of where this is going, moving into the summer. You’ll want to check with your individual school system, but most districts in the Upper Cumberland were shying away from the school prom, as we are here in White County.

As far as graduation goes, we desperately want to have an in-person ceremony, and most are planning for such, even if it’s not on a traditional date. It may be later in the summer, but most schools are planning for that. But they have a plan B or plan C in place which would look something like a drive-through or drive-up celebration to award diplomas. So, we certainly want to recognize those folks, and trying everything we can to make that happen. As far as school starting next year, over the summer—we are still working, by the way—schools are not open for schoolwork, but we are still working.

We are serving meals every day in all of our school systems. We’re still providing work online and in paper form. So, our schools are doing a great job across the Upper Cumberland and working together and serving families. This summer, you’ll still see summer feeding programs, summer reading programs, more supplemental material, we need parents to stay involved, like never before, with their children’s education. And then, going back to school in the fall, there’ll be probably some remediation involved.

There’ll definitely be some schedule changes in order to accommodate more make-up or remediation for time missed. It’s looking like about a two year plan of catch-up for all the last time of learning. We can’t expect to make this all up in one fell swoop, so we’ll continue to work with the Tennessee Department of Education and our local LEAs to set up a plan to make that time up, but it looks like it’s going to be a lengthy procedure.

And then, finally, you spoke to sporting events. We expect more guidance from the TSSAA and even tomorrow, we expect a little more guidance because the latest announcement from that camp was that spring sports are canceled in their entirety. And that takes us through the end of the school year, which for most folks is the end of May, and even into the early June, some of the championships. Then they enter into the dead period, so-called dead period, in June.

And so, spring—excuse me, fall sports are not set to start, in some cases, practices until the middle of July. So, we don’t have anything definite right now, but I know a lot of folks are thinking about tryouts and things that normally happen this time of year. Right now, we don’t have an answer to that other than we’re just following safety and health guidelines, which is to say, we have to stay apart. So, those tryouts and those early spring practices are off right now until we get further guidance, but we expect that very soon from the TSSAA.

Host Ryan: That’s great. We’re going to go to Harlan Robinson—and please hang on, folks. We’ve got seven or eight people in the queue for questions, and I’m going to get to as many as possible. Harlan, you’re live, sir. Harlan?

Harlan Robinson: Yes,

Host Ryan: You’re live. What’s your question?

Harlan Robinson: Oh, I was wanting to know if people on social security, like myself, still going to give a stimulus check of $1200, or if that money’s been spent out already, like some of the other money.

Senator Bailey: All right, thanks—

Host Ryan: Thank you, Harlan.

Senator Bailey: Thanks, Harlan, for calling in and asking that question. And my understanding is no, that fund was not limited. Anyone that was eligible to receive the $1200 will be receiving that directly from the federal government.

Host Ryan: We’re going to go to Barbara. Barbara, what’s your question?

Barbara: Yes, I actually have two different questions. And one of those is, many college students are having issues with balancing online classes along with homeschooling children, and other personal issues.

Currently, if you do not maintain continuous enrollment in Reconnect, HOPE, and Promise, you cannot continue utilizing the program. With those who may need a break to recoup costs, or if a second wave happens in the fall and need childcare to adequately take online college classes, will any legislative bills be considered for those who are in those programs or even those that have a scholarship, can any bill be utilized to make sure that if they need that break, they can go ahead and go back instead of being kicked out?

Senator Bailey: That’s your first question?

Barbara: Yes. Do I need to go ahead and do my second? [laughs].

Senator Bailey: Well, let’s just touch on that one first. Obviously, we’re in uncharted territory in regards to the Coronavirus and the effects that it’s had, not only on our economy but also on our education system. So, I can say to you that the legislature would be open for suggestions, and obviously we’ll be working with Tennessee Higher Education Commission, as well as Department of Education, for suggestions on any top programs that would help those students that have been in those programs and had to basically stay at home to take care of their children, how we can continue to keep them reconnected. So, what’s your second question?

Barbara: Okay, so secondly, right now students are charged for online and alternative fees for online classes at Tennessee Tech, which averages about 129 per credit. And with those, sometimes there’s not even an alternative on-site class that’s offered, and they have to have it for their degree, so they’re stuck with this online and all alternative fee. Well, now everybody has went online. And so, those that had to take it as a first are stuck with this bill.

Is there any kind of legislative bill that could be considered to pay that back since everybody’s online? And then, also, for the future, can legislation be considered for that if you’re going to be charged for this online free, that there actually does have to be an alternative on-site class so that they’re not stuck with paying the fee?

And I’ll give you an example. My daughter actually ended up having to take two for her teaching program and was charged an extra $600 that we had to end up paying out of pocket that we weren’t expecting. And that was above and beyond her scholarships that she had. My son also had to, instead of taking the class because the on-site class was full, he just had to wait another semester until he could take it which, kind of, delays things and stuff like that.

Senator Bailey: And, sorry, I just wanted to, and again, thank you very much. And listen, as I stated earlier, we’re in a lot of uncharted territory with the effects of this virus. And I know that our education system has been really turned upside down. And I think there’s going to be a lot of new policies that come out over the next legislative session that will help address a lot of the concerns that you have brought to us tonight.

We’ve certainly been hearing those same concerns from other students. So, I think next year, being 2021, when we go back into legislative session, you’ll start seeing a lot of the concerns of students today being brought forward in the form of legislation and/or changes by the Department of Education.

Host Ryan: Okay, we got a great question, looks like, from Sharon in Fairfield Glade. Sharon, you’re live.

Sharon: Thank you for doing this, first of all.

Senator Bailey: Yes, ma’am.

Sharon: My question and my concern is Fairfield Glade is considered a resort. When they do these big golf tournaments, and in addition, they have timeshares, and it’s considered someplace to really go. People come from many other states. My concern is what is being done to look at somehow controlling that opening. Um, we just don’t know who’s going to be bringing in what from where. And my concern is that nobody might be concerned about that, or looking at it carefully.

Senator Bailey: Sharon, and thank you for that question, and as you know, that Fairfield Glade is governed by a board. And I’m sure that many residents there in the Fairfield Glade area are bringing those very same concerns to that board. And I’m sure that Mr. Weber will be addressing that and making sure that those resorts, when they open, that people that come into those resorts are properly screened, and also make sure that the residents in Fairfield Glade are kept safe.

Host Ryan: Um, we’re going to go to Jim Kennedy.

Jim Kennedy: Yeah, thanks for taking our calls. I got two questions. The first question is the $600 kicker for unemployment from the federal government, is that a one-time payout, or is it weekly?

Commr. McCord: No—so this is Jeff McCord. No, sir, that is weekly.

Jim Kennedy: Okay. Yeah, we’re getting some misinformation on it, and I’ve got a small manufacturing business here, and we’re considered essential. And one of the challenges we’re having, as people that are employed with us are ill, we’ve asked them to stay at home.

We’ve had to get some temporary help, and some of the temporary help, they’ll come in and work one day and then realize you’re making $875 a week, why come to work? So, we’ve got a challenge there in the workforce. My second question, and it actually is coming from my wife who is sitting here next to me. When will elective surgeries resume across the state?

Senator Bailey: Wow. That is a good question, and I’ve been reading various and certainly if any of the other guests that are on here can jump in on that. It’s going to depend upon what part of the state that you live in, and the PPE equipment that’s available to those various surgery centers. So, I think it’s going to be dependent, again, on what part of the State of Tennessee, that you’re in. Commissioner or anyone else want to elaborate any more on that, or is that, answered that pretty much the—

Commr. McCord: Senator, Jeff McCord here. I think you answered it exactly right. I think we’ll begin to find out more tomorrow, at the governor’s press conference, as well.

Senator Bailey: Great.

Host Ryan: Okay, we’ve got several more questions that we’re going to queue up, folks, and I know that we got one from Jimmy in Crossville, and he wanted to know if you can get SBA loan and unemployment assistance.

Senator Bailey: Tyler, do you want to jump on that one?

Dir. Asher: I can answer that question. You cannot get the unemployment and the Payroll Protection Program both. You have to pick one or the other.

Host Ryan: All right, we’re going to go to Elizabeth [Dalese]. Elizabeth, what’s your question?

Elizabeth Dalese: Well, I have two questions actually.

Host Ryan: Okay.

Elizabeth Dalese: One is about the education. My son is a junior here in Crossville, Tennessee, at CCHS. And why do we have any online schooling for them? That’s the number one question. And my second question is I’ve also had two lung surgeries, and I did not have to leave work, but I did because we were concerned about my condition, because if I caught this, I could die.

And the unemployment system is just awful, and it just keeps saying processing, and I can’t call anybody. And there’s just nothing that you can do. Oh, you know, I just keep laughing about it. I mean, it’s like, I understand that it’s overwhelmed, but what’s going on for somebody like me? Am I able to—even though I can work now my job is still open. And I can work, but—

Senator Bailey: So, Elizabeth, you’re saying that you had taken off simply because of your health condition, and you’ve been trying to get your unemployment. Commissioner, do you want to just touch on that and I’m going to kick it over to Mr. Dronebarger and let him see if he answers this question.

Commr. McCord: Let me take that first, Elizabeth. So, you’re right, we are stretched very thin in systems and inability to take phone calls. We have put in, as of tomorrow, built and put in the system that you may fall under, even if you don’t fall under the traditional uninsurance—insurance system, and that system is starting to pay and process claims now.

As that happens, and as we improve the system, which is also happening, our phone call volume will drop, because those are the main questions that we’re having. It sounds like from your situation that you may actually qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. There’s a variety of factors there that may qualify you if you don’t qualify for traditional unemployment insurance. And with that, I’ll let Rusty finish this answer off.

Asst. Commr. Felts: Okay, so that’s a good question, but I really don’t have anything to add. The Commissioner answered that perfectly. In normal circumstances where that might not be an approvable claim, under the CARES act, it very well could be, it will just have to go through the adjudication process. And it actually brings up a really good point about the program that I think everybody needs to hear. The one thing that’s not advertised is we typically, in these situations, you have to go through the process to see if you qualify for Tennessee unemployment, regular state benefits before you ever know if you qualify for the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, and sometimes that can add some additional time to it. So, it was a really good question.

Host Ryan: Folks, and we got our poll results tonight. And we have 68.5 percent of you were more concerned about the economic impact. And we’re going to go with a question or two more, and then Senator Bailey’s going to give us some closing remarks. Let’s go with Laura. Laura, you’re live.

Laura: Okay. I own a day spa and Cookeville where we do mostly therapeutic massage. So, I’m wondering, one, where do we fall at—are we under the salon, and will they have guidelines set up for us?

Senator Bailey: Hey, Laura, I believe I know you.

Laura: Yes because I’ve got several—I’ve got several clients that are just dying. So, I’ve got to figure out what we’ve got to do.

Senator Bailey: Okay, well, listen, we’re hoping that the governor’s ERG group will have guidelines out for you, either tomorrow or at the latest, first of next week so that you can get your clients back in there and start helping them out. Obviously, kind of falls under the barber, cosmetology guidelines. You’re working directly with that patient, you’re touching that patient, that client. And so, they’re looking for best practices for you to be able to reopen and we hear you. We’ve been hearing you. And so, we want to get you open just as soon as possible.

Laura: Okay. Thank you.

Host Ryan: We’re going to go with Henry. Last question of the evening. Henry, thanks for waiting so long. What’s your question?

Henry: Really just clarification that the SBA won’t solicit customers. We have to go to them, just so we don’t fall into a scam. Is that correct?

Dir. Asher: Yes, that is correct. SBA wants you to come directly to them if you apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan, that is directly through the SBA.

Senator Bailey: Those of you that are interested in these SBA loans, I certainly want you to know that you have a resource in the Upper Cumberland Development District. It’s a local resource.

They’re somebody that you can trust, that you can go to. Ask them questions, make sure that any of the SBA programs that are being offered are good for you, and make sure that anything that’s been offered to you is not a scam. So, definitely use the Upper Cumberland Development District as a resource to ensure that you’re not being scammed.

Host Ryan: All right, let’s go with Bobby. Bobby, this is a great question. You’re on live, sir.

Bobby: Hello, Senator—this is for Senator Bailey. I was just wondering if the state opens a little too early and we have a setback, or a reinsurgence of this disease, or pandemic, or whatever we want to call it. What is the state doing to be a little better prepared for the next go around?

Senator Bailey: Well, one thing we need to realize is that once we began opening up the state, that there could be a possible reemergence of COVID-19. And one thing that the state has realized, as well as the federal government, is how to prepare for that. We also know that the numbers that we were given early on, we did not get to those numbers. We did not need the required number of hospital beds and ventilators that were originally predicted, but the good news is we have those in place today. Our medical system is in place today to deal with any type of an outbreak that could reemerge with the opening of Tennessee.

Host Ryan: All right, thanks so much. We’re going to do one more here. We got Brandon, Brandon you’re live.

Brandon: Hello, and I appreciate y’all doing this call. First and foremost, I was on unemployment previously to this pandemic coming through, and my benefit had exhausted right before everything got shut down.

I was starting to get interviews and everything like that, but obviously everything’s been, kind of, put on hold. I have read some on the Tennessee websites about possibly getting an extension on my benefits until things open back up. But I haven’t really seen anywhere where I can reapply, and I’ve had issues getting the phone system, of course, because you guys have been just slammed with phone calls. One, I was wondering if you guys know how I can reapply for that extension, and two, if I’m actually eligible for that extension.

Senator Bailey: Rusty, you want to take that one?

Asst. Commr. Felts: Yes, sir. Absolutely. That’s another good question, sort of in two parts. Whether or not you’re eligible, that’s going to depend on some different factors, so we don’t ever just make a broad assumption that yes, these are, and yes, these aren’t. But the best thing to do is file the claim, which leads to your second question. If you’re inside of a benefit year and exhausted your benefits, you’re in a rare circumstance, in that the system probably will not let you file a new claim because it sees you in that benefit year and with no options.

So, the best thing to do is file a ticket with the department. And we will get to that ticket as fast as we can. We’ve got extra resources working all kinds of overtime, and we will get to that ticket, get it into the system for you, and determine your eligibility.

Host Ryan: Folks, we’ve had over 7000 people on this call tonight at various times, and Senator, why don’t you close us out with some closing remarks.

Senator Bailey: Sure. Well, first and foremost, I’d like to say that the email address is paul@paulbaileyfortn.com. Also, constituents can certainly reach my legislative office at 615-741-3978. A lot of Tennesseans are hurting out there. We hear you. We know that you’re in need. We’re working just as hard and as fast as we can. But I can say that we have hope in Tennessee. We’re going to reopen our state. We’re going to get our economy back, and this is going to be the best news that anyone can have. And again, thank you very much, and thanks to all for joining us this evening. This is Paul Bailey.