Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe comments on effects the federal government shutdown is having on some state employees during a news conference in Little Rock on Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. ( AP/Danny Johnston )

Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday that he's going to call special session starting Thursday at 3 p.m. to fix the financially plagued public school employees' health insurance plan. He said he plans to issue a formal proclamation later in the day.

Beebe said he has been advised that Senate leaders have secured 29 votes for legislation to appropriate $43 million in surplus funds to the plan to cut the planned 50 percent premium increase to 10 percent, starting Jan. 1.

Approval of the legislation in the Senate requires 27 votes, he said.

House leaders already had secured the 77 votes for the legislation, and that's two more than needed, he said.

Read more in Thursday's The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.