The Arizona Legislature approved tens of millions of dollars in emergency coronavirus funding on Thursday, the same day leaders announced measures to help prevent the disease from spreading around the Capitol, starting with the closure of the public galleries. 

Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency Wednesday after state health officials announced a ninth case of the disease caused by the new coronavirus, and authorities said they are expecting more patients. 

Funding approved without opposition by the Senate and House of Representatives on Thursday will include an immediate $5 million from the state's rainy day fund, which has a balance of about $1 billion. 

The money can be used for testing and other expenses. 

Authorities will be able to draw on an additional $50 million from that fund to address the new coronavirus. 

Ducey signed off on the funding hours after the House and Senate votes. 

"This is providing resources so DHS (the Department of Health Services) doesn't have to react and come to us," Majority Leader Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, said. " It's proactive and getting ahead of the situation." 

Lawmakers cut back public access

The Legislature signaled Thursday that it plans to continue with its annual session but cut back on the proverbial glad-handing. 

In a memo to members and staff, Speaker Rusty Bowers and Senate President Karen Fann said they not only would close the public galleries starting Friday but also encourage people to limit attendance at hearings. 

They asked the public instead watch online and call, email or comment through the Request to Speak system. 

Looking at the gallery while announcing the change from the rostrum of the House, Bowers said he appreciated the public attending but added: "You can understand why we're doing this." 

Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, proceeded to make the rounds through the chamber offering sanitizing wipes for members and the press to clean their desks. 

Bowers and Fann also canceled all field trips and visits by outside organizations and dignitaries starting Friday. 

They asked staff and members to avoid in-person meetings when possible and requested that staff remove the candy dishes that can be found on the desks of lawmakers or their assistants. 

"It's not just to protect us.  It's to protect them, too," Minority Leader Charlene Fernandez, D-Yuma, said of the prospective visitors. " They come from all over the state." 

Fernandez said she welcomed the changes at the Capitol but reiterated that Democrats still want the state to take prepare for a broader response, such as guaranteeing paid leave for workers who have to stay home because of the virus. 

Funds tied to bill extending health agency's operations

The additional $50 million in funding is attached to a bill that will also extend the operations of the Department of Health Services, which is leading the state's response to COVID-19. 

Arizona law sets dates for agencies to "sunset," or stop operations. 

The dates require lawmakers and the auditor general to regularly review the work and purpose of government agencies through what is known as the sunset review process.  The process usually culminates in legislators voting to renew a department for several years. 

The Department of Health Services was set to "sunset" July 1. 

The Senate voted nearly unanimously in January to continue the department's operations to 2028, but the House Health and Human Services Committee had not scheduled a hearing on the matter as of Wednesday. 

Chairwoman Nancy Barto, R-Phoenix, told The Republic on Wednesday she would place it on agenda soon and during a hearing on Thursday, some Democrats questioned why they had not taken up the matter sooner. 

"We only have two more weeks of health committee after this one and I think it's extremely important," said Rep. Kelli Butler, D-Phoenix. 

On the House floor that afternoon, Barto asked the chamber move the bill out of her committee and add the funding to address new coronavirus. 

Contact Andrew Oxford at andrew.oxford@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter at @andrewboxford.