All Roll Calls
Yes: 133 • No: 0
ArkansasHB12532025 Regular SessionHouse
TO ADOPT THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL LICENSURE INTERSTATE COMPACT IN ARKANSAS.
Sponsored By: Justin Boyd (Republican), Lee Johnson (Republican)
Enacted
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 4 mixed.
Emergency medical workers gain interstate practice
Arkansas joins the interstate compact for emergency medical services workers. Eligible workers can practice in other member states without getting a separate license there. They must be at least 18, hold a current unrestricted member-state license, and work under a medical director. Their home state must meet compact requirements, and their work must fall within situations the compact authorizes. Workers must follow the other state's laws and practice limits. When a governor's emergency or disaster declaration activates the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, that compact controls conflicting rules for responding workers.
Faster medical licensing for military families
Member states must speed up emergency medical services license applications for covered military-connected applicants. This includes veterans, active service members, Guard or Reserve members separating from an active-duty tour, and their spouses. States must accept their current, valid, unrestricted National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification for minimum training and exam requirements. The certification must be at or above the license level sought. The law sets no exact processing deadline or fee change.
Arkansas medical applicants face both checks
Initial Arkansas emergency medical services license applicants must complete both state and national criminal history checks. Applicants must provide fingerprints and pay the applicable fees for both checks. The checks must meet applicable federal standards. Five years of continuous Arkansas residency no longer allows applicants to skip the national check. The law does not specify fee amounts.
Member states face medical compact charges
The commission may charge annual assessments to member states or fees to other parties for costs other revenue does not cover. It sets the allocation formula by rule, and collections must cover the unfunded share of its approved annual budget. The law sets no specific charge amount. The commission must keep accurate accounts and provide annual audited financial statements. It cannot pledge a member state's credit or take on obligations beyond available funds. After notice and an opportunity to cure a default, the commission can terminate membership by majority vote. States remain liable for assessments and contractual obligations accrued before termination. Commission actions can be appealed in the specified federal courts, including the D.C. Circuit.
Medical workers get privacy, ongoing monitoring
Only the affected applicant or licensee, or their authorized representative, can examine that person's criminal history information. Records must stay in Arkansas State Police Identification Bureau custody. The Department of Health may join arrest-alert systems and submit fingerprints to the FBI for comparisons with later submissions, including latent fingerprints. Participation in available alert programs is optional. Later state or federal checks need no new fingerprints when enrollment prints were legible and the applicant has FBI Rap Back coverage.
Medical workers face coordinated interstate discipline
Only the home state can discipline a license it issued; another member state can restrict practice within its borders. A restricted, suspended, or limited home-state license blocks interstate practice until restored, unless both states give prior written authorization. Home-state discipline orders must identify inactive compact privileges and any authorized exceptions. Home states must investigate out-of-state conduct under home-state law; states can use another state's findings while following their own procedures. States must report discipline and practice restrictions, and workers in alternative programs need prior authorization to practice elsewhere. Those programs remain nonpublic when the contributing state's law requires it. State authorities can issue subpoenas and cease-and-desist orders and restrict, suspend, or revoke interstate practice privileges. Another member state's courts can enforce subpoenas under local procedures; the issuing authority pays required witness fees and expenses.
New commission sets medical licensing rules
A joint public commission administers the compact, with one voting delegate from each member state. Its uniform rules bind Arkansas and other members. Meetings occur at least annually and are generally public, with limited closed sessions. Rulemaking generally requires 60 days' notice and public comment; 25 people or an association with 25 members can request a hearing. Emergency rules must undergo standard rulemaking within 90 days, and nonsubstantive corrections have a 30-day public challenge window. The commission can hire staff, contract, accept grants and donations, borrow, own property, and arrange insurance and bonds. Member-state courts must recognize the compact and its rules; the commission can pursue federal enforcement, injunctions, damages, and intervention. Enforcement remedies are not exclusive, and compact rules govern prevailing-party costs and fees. Commission personnel receive civil liability protection, defense, and coverage for qualifying claims, settlements, and judgments involving their duties or a reasonable belief they acted within them. These protections exclude intentional, willful, or wanton misconduct.
States share medical worker licensing records
The interstate commission must maintain a shared database for emergency medical services licensing and oversight. States must submit identifying and license data, significant investigation information, discipline, practice restrictions, license denials with reasons, and required administrative information. They must also submit nonconfidential information about alternative-program participation. The database must promptly alert all member states about discipline and significant investigations. States can block public sharing of designated information without their express permission, and information must be removed when contributing-state law requires expungement.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Justin Boyd
Republican • Senate
Lee Johnson
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/17/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, March 17, 2025 3:27:30 PM
Yes: 34 • No: 0
House vote • 3/4/2025
House Vote - Tuesday, March 4, 2025 2:12:29 PM
Yes: 99 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1253 is now Act 384
3/20/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
3/18/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
3/17/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
3/17/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed.
3/17/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
3/17/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
3/12/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE
3/4/2025SenateReceived from the House.
3/4/2025SenateRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
3/4/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/3/2025HouseAmendment No. 2 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/3/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
3/3/2025HouseReturned by the Committee with the recommendation that it do pass as amended 2
2/27/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/26/2025HouseAmendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
2/26/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
2/26/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE
1/27/2025HouseFiled
1/27/2025House
Bill Text
HB1253 - Introduced
1/27/2025
Act Version
Related Bills
HB1265, AN ACT FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2025-2026 FISCAL YEAR.
HB1237, TO PROHIBIT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS FROM SOLICITING INJURED INDIVIDUALS; AND TO SET PENALTIES FOR A VIOLATION OF THE PROHIBITION OF SOLICITATION OF INJURED INDIVIDUALS.
HB1686, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING LICENSES TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS.
SB440, TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS; TO REGULATE THE USE OF ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS; AND TO REGULATE ALKALINE HYDROLYSIS FACILITIES.
HB1695, TO CLARIFY THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS FOR PROPERTY SUBJECT TO A MUNICIPAL LIEN; TO ALLOW A MUNICIPALITY TO PETITION TO SET ASIDE THE SALE OF PROPERTY TO CERTAIN PERSONS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE PRIORITY OF UNRECORDED MUNICIPAL LIENS.
HR1012, TO AMEND THE RULES OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY; TO REQUIRE THAT A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BE SELECTED AS A DESIGNATED SURVIVOR.