Rules Committee reviews credentialing reforms, school safety kits, vehicle rules and ketamine clinic standards; HB 629 moved

The Rules Committee met to consider a slate of public-safety and regulatory measures and moved one bill forward without opposition. Senators and representatives discussed credentialing changes for health-care workers, proposals on vehicle technology, school safety kit funding, and regulatory standards for ketamine clinics.

Senator Huffstetler introduced Senate Bill 162, which she said had been restored to its original, shorter form after prior-session additions were removed. She described two main elements: allowing administrative approval so qualified clinicians may begin work before the full composite medical board meets, and permitting hospitals to input credentialing information so individuals can be credentialed across facilities. "This is why I refer to this as the Paul Brock Act," Huffstetler said, citing a dean who piloted a student credentialing system. Committee members and the sponsor said the new board director and system upgrades have cut credentialing delays from months to about "30 days," and that the change could…