Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Health topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate committee backs bill to authorize rules for human milk banks in Arkansas
Summary
Lawmakers passed HB1176 to permit the Department of Health to promulgate rules enabling human milk banks; the department recommended nonprofit operation because of high startup and operating costs and said any state funding would be auditable.
The committee approved HB1176, which would authorize creation of rules to allow human milk banks to operate in Arkansas.
Stephanie Williams, deputy director for public health programs at the Department of Health, testified that Arkansas currently relies on supplies from other states and that 24 states already have breast milk banks. She said the department examined operating a milk bank in-house but estimated it would cost roughly $1,400,000 to set up and about $1,200,000 annually to maintain; for that reason the department favors a nonprofit operator and the national Human Milk Bank Association network.
Senator Hickey asked whether a nonprofit operator could be audited if state funds were used; Williams said yes and added that the Department of Health had no current intention to use state funds. The committee discussed oversight and the need to make sure state dollars, if used, would be auditable and transparent.
There was no recorded public opposition in the hearing. The committee adopted a sponsor amendment earlier in the item and voted to pass HB1176 as amended by voice vote.
