All Roll Calls
Yes: 120 • No: 7
ArkansasHB17672025 Regular SessionHouse
TO ABOLISH THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COUNCIL; AND TO CREATE THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
Sponsored By: Missy Irvin (Republican), Lee Johnson (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Patients can request nearby hospital destinations
During emergency medical transport, you can request the physician or hospital you prefer. The provider must make a reasonable effort to take you there if it is within a reasonable distance. This does not guarantee transport to a distant destination.
Statewide rules guide do-not-resuscitate emergency care
The State Board of Health adopts an emergency medical do-not-resuscitate protocol based on the committee's recommendation. This protocol guides emergency care when resuscitation is not wanted. After the board adopts it, the Department of Health may adopt a standard statewide identification form. The law does not require the department to adopt that form.
Emergency medical workers get appeal routes
The committee may hold public disciplinary hearings and hear appeals of license denials or renewal denials. Workers and providers may appeal adverse committee decisions to the State Board of Health, then to circuit court. For listed disqualifying convictions, the committee may consider a waiver after five years since conviction or release from custody. Currently licensed emergency medical personnel may also request a waiver without meeting that five-year threshold. Written requests must reach the committee through the Department of Health within 15 calendar days after receiving the department's determination. A person seeking this review cannot be suspended before the committee's final decision.
New committee guides emergency medical services
The law replaces the Emergency Medical Services Advisory Council with an 11-member committee appointed by the State Board of Health. Members represent medical workers, ambulance services, military technicians, training programs, and consumers. They serve two-year terms, with no more than two consecutive terms, and may receive authorized expense payments and stipends. The committee meets quarterly, needs six members for a quorum, and recommends grant recipients to the Department of Health. The department keeps administrative duties, and existing rules, licenses, registrations, orders, and standards remain valid until changed or repealed.
State and local ambulance oversight changes
The new committee recommends statewide rules for emergency medical licenses, vehicles, equipment, communications, operations, reporting, and dispatch. It also takes over standards for communications between emergency medical workers and patients about specific health conditions. The State Board of Health adopts rules through the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act and submits them to legislative public health committees before implementation. The law repeals the former review process, including its Legislative Council and governor approval steps. Emergency medical services become part of municipal affairs, and cities and counties may set standards equal to or stricter than state standards.
Ambulance grants fund upgrades with limits
The Emergency Medical Services Enhancement Revolving Fund supports licensed providers, training, trauma care, and state oversight. At fiscal year end, 50% goes to provider grants, 20% to the trauma system and registry, and 10% to administration and staff training support. Another 10% supports approved special projects and specialized training meeting the 1998 federal transportation curriculum, 5% supports training sites, and 5% supports quality, safety, inspections, licensing, and vehicle registration. Grants can fund vehicles, equipment, licensing-related training, testing, software maintenance, and instructor certification; training money must be repaid if licensure is not obtained. Grants cannot pay salaries, daily operating costs, ongoing contracts, or real estate, or start lower-level services where an existing licensed service has operated for over one year. Grant-funded ambulances must meet state standards and be registered at the advanced emergency medical technician level or higher. Grant-funded vehicles and equipment must serve their intended purpose for at least three years. If a funded ambulance service closes, it must return that property for redistribution within the county, or elsewhere if no eligible local service exists within one year.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Missy Irvin
Republican • Senate
Lee Johnson
Republican • House
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 4/14/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, April 14, 2025 1:02:35 PM
Yes: 31 • No: 2
House vote • 3/31/2025
House Vote - Monday, March 31, 2025 3:06:07 PM
Yes: 89 • No: 5 • Other: 3
Actions Timeline
Notification that HB1767 is now Act 863
4/17/2025HouseCorrectly enrolled and ordered transmitted to the Governor's Office.
4/15/2025HouseTO BE ENROLLED
4/14/2025HouseReturned from the Senate as passed.
4/14/2025HouseReturned to the House as passed.
4/14/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
4/14/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
4/9/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE
3/31/2025SenateReceived from the House.
3/31/2025SenateRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
3/31/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
3/20/2025HouseREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
3/19/2025HouseAmendment No. 1 read and adopted and the bill ordered engrossed.
3/19/2025HousePlaced on second reading for the purpose of amendment.
3/19/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE
3/12/2025HouseFiled
3/12/2025House
Bill Text
HB1767 - Introduced
3/12/2025
Act Version
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