The Senate will hold one more week of hearings on spending by individual state agencies and then switch next week to a different format, including small-group sessions, for what Senate President Bob Burns is calling "budget week."

This week, the Senate will resume looking into the budgets of individual state agencies and programs and continue sorting through specific components of the federal stimulus package. The Senate Appropriations is expected to wrap up its hearings into agencies and programs.

On March 10, the Commerce and Economic Development committee will review the federal economic recovery plan, discussing its renewable energy tax credit component as well as the state's energy program.

The Senate Appropriations Committee will meet jointly with the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday (March 10) and Thursday (March 12). See related story at http://www.azcapitoltimes.com/story.cfm?id=10634.

On March 11, the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee will also meet, but no agenda had been posted as of March 9.

That same day, the Healthcare and Medical Liability Reform Committee will discuss the COBRA health benefit component of the stimulus plan, specifically focusing on budget issues regarding long-term care. Lawmakers will hear testimony from the Arizona Health Care Association.

Also March 11, the Education Accountability and Reform committee will hear updates on the federal stimulus package and will review a report by the state Auditor General's Office on money spent in classrooms by public school districts in fiscal year 2008. A recent auditor general's report showed many small school districts in the state are spending a smaller percentage of money in classrooms than they were eight years ago.

On March 12, the Retirement and Rural Development Committee will look at the deferred retirement option plans of the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System.

That same day, the Government Institutions committee will discuss the transparency requirements as well as the emergency food and shelter components of the stimulus package.

Next week's format will be a change from what has become a series of probes into state agency spending. If all goes on schedule, the Senate will start holding additional caucus meetings and small-group sessions as part of budget week, Burns said.

Burns said budget week will provide an opportunity for members of the Appropriations Committee to "sell" their budget ideas to colleagues outside of the committee.