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Committee approves EMS licensure compact to ease cross-border response
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Summary
The committee voted to pass House Bill 1253 to join the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) licensure compact, enabling Arkansas paramedics and EMTs to practice across bordering states under a shared framework.
The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee voted to pass House Bill 1253, the EMS Licensure Compact, which sponsors said would allow Arkansas-licensed emergency medical services personnel to practice in multiple compact member states without obtaining separate licenses.
Rep. Lee Johnson, sponsor of the measure, introduced Dr. Brandon Morchetti, an emergency medicine and EMS physician and longtime medical director, who explained the compact has been enacted by 24 states and includes all six states that border Arkansas. Morchetti said, "Enacting this compact will immediately offer innumerable benefits to our state as well as allowing us to be a good neighbor to the 6 border states." He added the measure is supported by the Arkansas Ambulance Association, Arkansas EMT Association, Arkansas State Firefighters Association and the Arkansas Department of Health EMS section.
Committee members asked how Arkansas would participate in the compact's governance. Dr. Morchetti said participating member states receive a commission seat; Arkansas' representative would likely be the EMS section chief, a governor-appointed commissioner, and each state has equal voting representation on the compact commission.
Rep. Johnson confirmed the bill includes language delegating certain rulemaking and compliance authority to a state presence, and said the compact language delegates authority to the relevant licensing or regulatory entity for Arkansas. No public opponents signed up to speak. The committee approved the bill by voice vote; the chair announced, "Ayes have it. Congratulations. You've passed your bill."
Why it matters: supporters said the compact simplifies licensure for frontline responders who regularly cross state lines to respond to mutual-aid calls and during disasters. The committee did not identify implementation funding or timeline during the hearing.
What comes next: the measure will proceed through the legislative process; if enacted, Arkansas would join the multi-state EMS compact and follow its membership rules, including appointment of a commissioner and participation in the compact commission.
Speakers quoted in this report appeared during the HB 1253 agenda item in committee.
