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Committee approves package of health and licensing bills; votes at a glance
Summary
The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee passed a series of bills that update telemedicine language, nursing‑home regulations, cemetery rules, background checks for Medicaid‑paid caregivers, and directed a review of Medicaid consent decrees; most measures passed by voice vote, with SB 570 decided by roll call.
The Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee advanced multiple bills in a single hearing.
Notable approvals included:
- HB 17‑23: Establishes a confidential data‑review process for prehospital medicine modeled on the trauma system's preventable mortality committee. (Presented by Representative Lee Johnson; passed by voice vote.)
- HB 10‑63: Technical amendment to telemedicine language presented by Senator Hester; amendment adopted and bill passed as amended.
- HB 11‑76: Updates state nursing‑home staffing and regulatory language to conform with federal CMS requirements and to modernize counting of licensed staff (presented by Senator Dave Wallace; passed by voice vote).
- HB 17‑56: Creates a lifetime journeyman electrician license with continuing education requirements (Senator Blake Johnson; passed by voice vote).
- HB 11‑41: Statutory clean‑up for perpetual‑care cemeteries, clarifying board references, addressing inconsistencies in Arkansas Code and requesting authority for background checks on cemetery principals (presented by Insurance Department director Robert Akers; passed by voice vote).
- HB 14‑27: Requires registry checks (adult and child maltreatment) in addition to criminal background checks for caregivers paid with Medicaid funds (presented by DHS deputy director Sarah Schmidt; passed by voice vote).
- SB 6‑21: Directs DHS to review legacy Medicaid consent decrees for potential savings; committee mandated reconsideration and passed the bill.
Most of the measures were approved by voice vote after brief presentations and limited questioning. SB 570 (medical board reconstitution) was debated at length and approved by roll call.
The committee adjourned with no further items on the agenda.
