All Roll Calls
Yes: 129 • No: 0
ArkansasSB1012025 Regular SessionSenate
TO ESTABLISH THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT LICENSURE COMPACT.
Sponsored By: Clint Penzo (Republican), Zack Gramlich (Republican)
Enacted
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 5 mixed.
Physician assistants keep temporary privileges during exits
When the commission removes a state, affected physician assistants keep their compact privileges for 180 days. Those licensed in the removed state can keep privileges elsewhere longer by securing another member-state qualifying license before that deadline. A state withdrawing by repeal leaves 180 days after enactment; existing privileges and reporting duties continue during that period. The withdrawing state must recognize compact-granted licenses for at least 180 days after its withdrawal notice.
Physician assistant discipline affects interstate work
Only the state issuing the qualifying license can take disciplinary action against that license. Other member states can discipline privileges within their borders, following their own due-process laws. Action against the qualifying license deactivates all interstate privileges until every license restriction ends and two more years pass. Member states cannot discipline or deny privileges based on otherwise lawful practice in another state.
Physician assistants gain interstate practice with limits
Arkansas joins a compact that lets eligible physician assistants practice in other member states without separate full-state licenses. The compact takes effect when a seventh state enacts it; this law gives no calendar date. Applicants need approved training, current national certification, a qualifying state license, and a unique identifier. They cannot have felony or misdemeanor convictions or any past suspension or revocation of controlled-substance credentials. Current license revocations, limits, or restrictions from disciplinary action block eligibility. Past disciplinary limits or restrictions on a license or compact privilege must have ended at least two years earlier. Practice follows the laws where the patient is located.
Physician assistants face interstate fees and duties
States and the compact commission may charge practice-privilege fees; the law sets no amounts. Physician assistants must meet each destination state's law-knowledge requirements, pay related fees, and meet its controlled-substance prescribing requirements. They must notify the commission where they seek privileges, keep their home address updated, and accept legal notices by mail. Disciplinary action by a nonmember state must be reported within 30 days. Changing the state used to qualify requires notice and any commission-set change fee. A privilege expires when the qualifying license expires.
Member states face annual compact charges
The commission may charge member states an annual assessment for budget needs not covered by other revenue. Commission rules set how those charges are divided; the law gives no amount or direct household charge. States remain responsible for assessments and liabilities after withdrawal or removal. The commission can accept grants and donations and must keep financial records and obtain periodic financial review.
Physician assistant records shared with privacy protections
The commission maintains shared licensing, disciplinary, and major investigation records, including records of applicants denied licenses. Member states must submit standard data and promptly share disciplinary actions; investigation information is limited to member states. States can mark certain records nonpublic and must omit criminal-history details when reporting them is barred by law. Commission-certified records can be used as evidence in proceedings. The commission must remove legally expunged information once the submitting state reports it; no separate removal deadline is given.
Arkansas sets physician assistant licensing duties
The Arkansas State Medical Board administers the compact and must adopt rules consistent with it. Arkansas must grant privileges to qualifying applicants, investigate complaints, share required records, and require a recognized national licensing exam. Criminal background checks must begin within the commission's rule-set deadline. Initial final rules must be filed with the Secretary of State by January 1, 2026. If Legislative Council approval was missing on January 1, 2025, filing is due as soon as practicable after approval. Proposed rules must reach the Council in time for approval before January 1, 2026. The Board need not adopt commission rules for its own rules to take effect.
Commission governs interstate physician assistant practice
The law establishes an interstate commission to run the compact and issue rules with the force of law. The compact overrides state laws only where they conflict. Courts can block commission rules that conflict with state laws defining which medical services physician assistants may perform. A majority of member-state legislatures can reject a rule by statute or resolution within four years of adoption. The commission can remove defaulting states after notice and a chance to correct problems, and resolve disputes through federal court. Member states can sue the commission to enforce compliance, but private parties cannot sue it under the compact. Commission members and staff receive legal defense and liability protections for work within their duties, except intentional misconduct.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Clint Penzo
Republican • Senate
Zack Gramlich
Republican • House
Cosponsors
Joy Springer
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/12/2025
House Vote - Wednesday, March 12, 2025 2:23:54 PM
Yes: 98 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/3/2025
Senate Vote - Monday, March 3, 2025 1:53:35 PM
Yes: 31 • No: 0 • Other: 3
Actions Timeline
Notification that SB101 is now Act 300
3/18/2025SenateDELIVERED TO GOVERNOR.
3/13/2025SenateReported correctly enrolled and ordered delivered to the Governor.
3/13/2025SenateORDERED ENROLLED
3/12/2025SenateReturned from the House as passed.
3/12/2025SenateReturned to the Senate as passed.
3/12/2025HouseRead the third time and passed and ordered transmitted to the Senate.
3/12/2025HouseReturned by the Committee Do Pass
3/11/2025HouseRead the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and referred to the Committee on PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE- HOUSE
3/3/2025HouseRECEIVED FROM THE SENATE
3/3/2025HouseOrdered immediately transmitted to the House.
3/3/2025SenateRead the third time and passed.
3/3/2025SenateReturned by the Committee, with the recommendation that it Do Pass
2/26/2025SenateRe-referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE
2/17/2025SenateREPORTED CORRECTLY ENGROSSED
2/17/2025SenateAmendment # 1 read the first time, rules suspended, read the second time and adopted, ordered engrossed.
2/17/2025SenateWithdrawn from Committee and placed on 2nd reading for purpose of amendment # 1
2/17/2025SenateRead first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to PUBLIC HEALTH, WELFARE AND LABOR COMMITTEE - SENATE
1/23/2025SenateFiled
1/23/2025Senate
Bill Text
SB101 - Introduced
1/23/2025
Act Version
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