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Senate committee approves occupational‑therapy licensure compact after amendment to protect legislative oversight
Summary
The Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee passed House Bill 1082, a voluntary interstate occupational‑therapy compact, after adopting an amendment clarifying the legislature retains rule‑making oversight (through ALC) and Arkansas may withdraw from the compact. Witnesses said the compact would ease cross‑state practice and not change Arkansas scope of practice.
The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on May 21 voted to pass House Bill 1082, a voluntary interstate compact that would allow licensed occupational therapists and therapy assistants to obtain practice privileges in other member states.
Sponsor testimony described the compact as a mechanism to let therapists move between member states without changing Arkansas’s scope of practice; the bill’s sponsor stressed the compact is voluntary and “has no effect on scope of practice.” The committee adopted an amendment to confirm that the Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) retains the ability to review and…
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