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Senate panel backs bill letting DACA recipients obtain Arkansas nursing licenses
Summary
The Senate Public Health Committee voted by voice to pass HB 15‑52, which authorizes the State Board of Nursing to license applicants who hold active DACA and employment authorization and otherwise meet licensure requirements; sponsors called it a narrowly focused workforce bill, and several DACA nursing students and educators testified in favor.
Representative Godfrey introduced House Bill 15‑52, saying the measure would allow the State Board of Nursing to license Arkansans with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status who meet all other licensure requirements. "House Bill 15‑52 allows the State Board of Nursing to license Arkansans who have the deferred action for childhood arrivals or DACA status," Godfrey said during her presentation. She noted the bill had passed the House unanimously.
Several DACA recipients and nursing‑education leaders testified. Rosa Rubalcaba Serna, a UAMS nursing student, described being brought to the United States as a child and said the inability to sit for the NCLEX in Arkansas after October 2017 "shattered" her hopes. Juanita Franklin of Northwest Arkansas Community College said hospitals need bilingual nurses and that the college lost students to other states after licensure restrictions changed. Carla Palma and Ariadna Valencia, both DACA recipients and nursing students, described paying out‑of‑state tuition and being blocked from examinations; they urged the committee to keep trained nurses in Arkansas.
Sponsors and committee members questioned the bill's mechanics. Representative Godfrey and other supporters repeatedly described the measure as "narrowly focused" on professional licensure and workforce needs rather than immigration policy; she told the committee the licensing authority would apply only while an applicant holds current DACA and employment authorization and that if DACA ended the statutory authorization would not operate. Senator Hickey asked whether license‑revocation language should be codified in statute; Godfrey said the State Board of Nursing would address revocation and related rules during promulgation.
The committee moved to a voice vote and the chair announced "Ayes have it." The transcript records a voice vote; a roll‑call tally is not recorded in the transcript.
The committee's action forwards HB 15‑52 to the next step in the legislative process after extensive public and sponsor testimony.
