Arkansas Hospital Association Legislative Bulletin 2015, No. 6 DATE: February 20, 2015 TO: FROM: SUBJECT: AHA votervoice Contacts Jodiane Tritt, Vice President for Government Relations Bills to Watch Happy Friday! While the icy roads may have left the State Capitol much less full of people this week, it certainly did not deter the work of our legislature and our Governor. Even though neither Chamber convened Monday or today, legislative activities in the middle of the week were plentiful. To date, 136 bills have made it to their final destination as Acts of the 90 th General Assembly. As of about 11:00 a.m. today, House members have filed 425 bills and Senators have filed 472. Of the collective 897 bills, 392 of them are classified as appropriations bills. Those numbers do not include the plethora of resolutions, whether they be classified as plain-old resolutions, joint resolutions, concurrent resolutions, memorial resolutions, or concurrent memorial resolutions. While the full list of bills that we are tracking is found at the bottom of this message, there are a few highlights from the week worth noting. In House Public Health, Welfare, and Committee, HB 1133 (Rep. Baltz), which establishes requirements for licensure of community paramedics, was passed and will be up for a full vote of the House early next week. The Arkansas Hospital Association supports HB 1133. Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Committee passed HB 1267 (Rep. D. Ferguson), which forces the Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Arkansas Department of Health to work jointly to develop plans, goals, and benchmarks for reducing the incidence and impact of diabetes. Also, in Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Committee, SB 312 (Sen. Clark), which is another attempt at repealing the Arkansas Private Option, failed. Also heard in Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Committee was SB 78 (Sen. Stubblefield), which modifies the supervision requirements of physicians on certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA). That bill needed five votes to clear the Senate committee and, on a voice vote, only cleared four; therefore, it failed. Rumors are flying in the Capitol that SB 78 will have another hearing in the Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Committee at a later date. The bill is vigorously supported by the CRNA Association and, to date, is opposed by the Arkansas Medical Society. Another bill of great interest, HB 1346 (Rep. Douglas), which diverts General Revenue funds from the state budget and allocates those funds for highway construction, passed the House Transportation Committee. By diverting those funds, other programs that depend on General Revenue, like Medicaid, education, higher education, prisons, and more could see budgets reduced if this bill is enacted.
Highways are certainly important but this legislation puts highways as a priority over all else. There are many groups opposed to this bill. Other important bills to watch include the following: HB 1386 (Rep. Boyd), which changes the required reporting for healthcare facilities - including hospitals - as they report misuse or abuse of illicit drugs or prescription medications; HB 1396 (Rep. Meeks), which creates a Health Care Compact among the states; HB 1397 (Rep. Branscum), which exempts community match incentive payments from state income tax for recipients of the Community Match Rural Physician Recruitment Program; HB 1407 (Rep. Hammer), which requires appropriate disposal of human tissue; HB 1421 (Rep. Bentley), which requires physicians who conduct abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the physician's clinic; HB 1422 (Rep. Bell), which changes the dates for local option elections (like raising local taxes for hospitals); HB 1423 (Rep. Bell), which requires 90% of punitive damage awards to be judged in favor of the state and deposited in a newly created Tax Relief Fund; SB 447 (Sen. Teague), which would add e-cigarettes to the definition of smoking and tobacco use; SB 466 (Sen. Irvin), which requires health benefits plans to publish formulary costs, benefits, and expenses for prescription drug coverage. Stay warm and healthy this weekend. As always, THANK YOU for all that you do! Jodiane
HB 1002 Sabin, Warwick (D) Woods, Jon (R) Authorizes the Ethics Commission to issue advisory opinions and guidelines on the requirements of Amendment 94 (Article 19, Sections 28, 29 and 30) of the Arkansas Constitution. 2-17-15 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 47) HB 1003 Meeks, Stephen (R) Removes prohibitive-cost exemption for public entities installing shielded outdoor lighting, instead creating a waiver process; places requirements on lighting installations for highways and signage, prohibits excessive light trespass, more. 2-18-15 H Amendment 1 adopted HB 1006 Bell, Nate (R) To join and participate in an interstate compact seeking to initiate an Article V amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would limit federal outstanding debt to 105 percent of the current level. 2-19-15 H Meeting cancelled for 02/20/15, H-State Agencies HB 1007 Linck, Kelley (R) Requires a state income tax rate reductions for those in the 4.5 percent bracket, in any amount above $70 million in a given month that is attributable to any new sales taxes levied on out-of-state sellers in the future. 2-18-15 H Meeting cancelled for 02/19/15, H-Revenue and Taxation HB 1008 Murdock, Reginald (D) To amend laws concerning bidding practices for construction of publicly funded projects; to amend laws concerning retainage of funds in construction contracts. (Shell bill) 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1009 Murdock, Reginald (D) To amend laws concerning construction management. (Shell bill) 1-12-15 H Introduced and referred to H- Public Health, Welfare and HB 1072 Sullivan, Dan (R) Cooper, John (R) Requires the DHS and the Children's Behavioral Health Care Commission to select a new outcomes measurement tool to replace the current one by Sept. 30, 2015. 2-18-15 S Passed (Vote: Y: 31/N: 3) HB 1076 Mayberry, Julie (R) Irvin, Missy (R) Requires prescribing physician be present during administration of abortion-inducing drugs; requires attempt to ensure patient returns for confirmation of the termination and assessment of patient's condition.
Companions: SB 53 (Related) 2-17-15 H Received from Senate as amended - referred to H-Public Health, Welfare and HB 1077 Collins, Charlie (R) Gives concealed carry privileges to staff members of universities, colleges, and community colleges regardless of rules adopted by their employing institution to the contrary. 2-24-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 138, H-Education HB 1087 Bell, Nate (R) Repeals provisions that prohibited employers from requiring or requesting employees to add a supervisor to the employee's social media accounts; exempts from entire law religious organizations and entities that care for children. 2-23-15 H Placed on the House calendar HB 1088 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the Treasurer of State for 2015-16 operations and expenses of the Arkansas Citizens First Responder Safety Enhancement Fund. 2-17-15 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 62) HB 1103 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the Department of Workforce Services for 2015-16 operations. 1-26-15 H Amendment 1 adopted HB 1106 Wright, Marshall (D) Authorizes cities to allow qualified electors of the county in which the municipality is situated to serve as members of the city's parks and recreation commission, upon a finding and ordinance that there are no qualified electors living within the city. 2-23-15 S Placed on the Senate calendar HB 1111 Sabin, Warwick (D) Provides detailed guidelines and requirements for public and private entities to partner for construction projects of certain public buildings; creates a Legislative Task Force to review such partnerships. 2-11-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 138, H-Agriculture, Forestry, Economic Development HB 1116 Lowery, Mark (R) Lowers the threshold for age-based employment hours restrictions from applying to persons under 18, to persons under 17. 2-19-15 S Emergency clause adopted HB 1120 Magie, Steve (D) Establishes procedures for examining and licensure as an anesthesiologist assistant; outlines the duties an anesthesiologist
assistant may perform under supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1127 Baltz, Scott (D) Extends the authorization for the Legislative Arkansas Blue Ribbon Committee on Local 911 Systems from January 1, 2015 to January 1, 2017. 2-19-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 272, S-City, County and Local Affairs HB 1133 Baltz, Scott (D) Establishes requirements for licensure as a community paramedic, including existing licensure as a paramedic and completion of an additional training program; authorizing community paramedic to perform particular services. 2-23-15 H Placed on the House calendar HB 1136 Magie, Steve (D) Allows registered nurses and physician assistants to prescribe hydrocodone combination products if authorized by a supervising physician. 2-18-15 S Received in the Senate - Referred to S-Public Health, Welfare and HB 1142 Douglas, Charlotte (R) Establishes a professional certification for surgical technologists. 2-12-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1147 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the DHS - Medicaid Expansion Program. 1-26-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint Budget HB 1156 Blake, Charles (D) Creates the E-Cigarette Excise Tax Act, which imposes a 7.5 cent per fluid ml sales tax on nicotine solutions used in e-cigarettes. HB 1158 Womack, Richard (R) Hester, Bart (R) 2-11-15 H Meeting set for 12:00 p.m. - MAC Room B, H-Rules Requires a new occupational regulation to explicitly state that it supersedes a person's right to a lawful occupation that is established by this Act. 2-17-15 H Passed over on calendar HB 1160 Hammer, Kim (R) Creates the Certified Nurse Practitioner Medically Underserved Permit Program for licensing as a nurse operating in an underserved area, and expands the prescriptive authority of such nurses.
2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1161 Hammer, Kim (R) Exempts health care concierge service arrangements from the insurance requirements of Arkansas in the same manner that burial associations and health care sharing ministries are exempt. HB 1162 Ferguson, Deborah (D) Irvin, Missy (R) 2-19-15 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 101) Creates the Arkansas Graduate Registered Physician Act, allowing physicians who have reached a certain step in the national licensure process but not yet completed a postgraduate residency to practice under a supervising physician. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1163 Bell, Nate (R) Prohibits public employers from disciplining public employees for exercising rights under the Freedom of Information Act. 2-19-15 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 102) HB 1165 Gonzales, Justin (R) Extends the prescriptive authority of advanced practice registered nurses to include Schedule II drugs. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1172 Hammer, Kim (R) Prohibits state agencies from creating or expanding licensure requirements for healthcare providers without prior study of such requirements by the Administrative Rules and Regulations Subcommittee of the Legislative Council. 2-5-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 130, H-Public Health, Welfare and HB 1174 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the Department of Health for 2015-2016 operations. 2-3-15 H Sent to subcommittee JBC - Personnel Subcommittee HB 1180 Vines, John (D) Amends the offense of battery in the second degree to include injuries inflicted while in control of a motorboat. 2-19-15 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 104)
HB 1181 Copeland, Donnie (R) Repeals the Health Care Independence Act of 2013 and provides for a phase-out period in which individuals may be eligible for temporary coverage using federal funds. 2-10-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1184 Neal, Micah (R) To amend laws relating to the ration of pharmacy technicians to supervising pharmacists. (Shell bill) 2-18-15 H Withdrawn from further consideration HB 1185 Leding, Greg (D) To create the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Recovery and Treatment Act. (Shell bill) 1-28-15 H Introduced and referred to H- Journal Committee HB 1207 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the DFA Disbursing Officer for grants and miscellaneous agency transfers for 2015-2016. 2-12-15 H Sent to subcommittee JBC - Special Language Subcommittee HB 1208 Gonzales, Justin (R) Requires law enforcement agencies to report the number of untested sexual assault collection kits in possession and report to the State Crime Lab by January 1 2016, for the Crime Lab to report by county and agency to the legislature. 2-12-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 149, H-Judiciary HB 1211 Dotson, Jim (R) To amend provisions relating to retirement credit and the Local Police and Fire Retirement System. (shell bill) 2-23-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 130, Joint Retirement HB 1227 Bell, Nate (R) Allows local law enforcement agencies to charge a reasonable fee for noncriminal fingerprinting services. 2-19-15 S Passed (Vote: Y: 30/N: 0) HB 1239 Mayberry, Julie (R) Hutchinson, Jeremy (R) Establishes the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Program, which allows contributions to be made to tax-exempt accounts held by disabled individuals for the purpose of meeting the individual's disability expenses. 2-18-15 H Meeting cancelled for 02/19/15, H-Revenue and Taxation
HB 1252 Broadaway, Mary (D) Hutchinson, Jeremy (R) Amends provisions governing venue for civil actions. 2-23-15 H Placed on the House calendar HB 1255 Broadaway, Mary (D) Establishes the Building Better Futures Program, which allows individuals with intellectual disabilities to participate in comprehensive transition and postsecondary programs at nonprofit public or private institutions of higher education. HB 1262 Miller, Josh (R) King, Bryan (R) 2-18-15 S Received in the Senate - Referred to S-Education Terminates the Medicaid Expansion program and creates the Arkansas Health Reform Legislative Task Force to recommend alternative healthcare coverage models. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1267 Ferguson, Deborah (D) Bledsoe, Cecile (R) Directs the DHS and Department of Health to jointly develop plans, goals, and benchmarks for reducing the incidence and impact of Diabetes in Arkansas; outlines information for the Departments to report to the Legislative Council relevant to those goals. 2-19-15 S Passed (Vote: Y: 30/N: 0) HB 1268 Broadaway, Mary (D) Increases the time frame in which a judgment creditor must mail a writ of garnishment to a judgment debtor to within 5 days of the writ's issue by the court, where formerly it was required to be mailed the same day; makes various other technical changes. HB 1275 Leding, Greg (D) Woods, Jon (R) 2-23-15 H Placed on the House calendar Provides an income tax credit of up to $4,000 per employee per tax year for employers providing paid family and medical leave to employees. 2-18-15 H Meeting cancelled for 02/19/15, H-Revenue and Taxation HB 1276 Leding, Greg (D) Requires employers of 4 or more employees to provide a detailed pay stub to each employee eat least once per month. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1277 Leding, Greg (D) Requires employers to pay without condition the entire amount of wages that they concede to be due to an employee in a dispute over wages; provides the acceptance
of such pay by an employee does not constitute a release of their claim to wages. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1292 Leding, Greg (D) Bledsoe, Cecile (R) Prohibits charging for the use of the realtime controlled substances logbook by pharmacies, law enforcement, or the state; requires the logbook to be able to communicate with similar systems and prevent the completion of illegal sales. 2-23-15 H Placed on the House calendar HB 1293 Leding, Greg (D) Makes various changes to the chapter governing licensure of social workers, including reducing the time frame in which lapsed licenses may be renewed, increasing maximum licensing fees, repealing temporary licenses, and other changes. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1311 Gates, Mickey (R) Ends acceptance of all Health Care Independence Act applications ten days after this bill becomes an Act; ends all coverage on December 31, 2016. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1328 Joint Budget Appropriates $90,000,000 to the Department of Human Services - Division of Medical Services from the General Improvements for the Arkansas Medicaid Program. 2-18-15 S Emergency clause adopted HB 1346 Douglas, Dan (R) Requires monthly allocation of excess gross general revenue from various sales and severance taxes when over $2.2 billion, which is earmarked for highway, road and street maintenance and highway industry workforce training programs. 2-23-15 H Placed on the House calendar HB 1350 Shepherd, Matthew (R) Exempts veterinarians from the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Act. HB 1355 Ladyman, Jack (R) Collins-Smith, Linda (R) 2-19-15 S Committee Motion for Do Pass Failed Gives municipalities, counties, companies and other local owners of a water system authority over the fluoride levels in their water systems; prohibits fluoride level
exceeding the maximum level established by the Department of Health. 2-19-15 H Clincher motion failed HB 1363 Copeland, Donnie (R) Requires the Department of Human Services to notify all persons enrolled in the Health Care Independence Program that the program and coverage will end December 31, 2016. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1375 Mayberry, Julie (R) Clark, Alan (R) Allows counties without sales taxes to hold an election deciding whether or not to levy a sales tax on alcoholic beverages to fund public health and safety measures in the county. 2-18-15 H Meeting set for 12:00 p.m. - MAC Room B, H-Rules HB 1378 Boyd, Justin (R) Repeals the provision allowing the State Board of Pharmacy to exempt from a criminal background check a candidate for licensure who will not practice in Arkansas. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1386 Boyd, Justin (R) Prescribes the required reporting by health care facilities and long-term care facilities of disciplinary actions taken against a healthcare professional as a result of misuse or abuse of illicit drugs or prescription medications. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1392 House, Douglas (R) Provides architects and engineers immunity from damages for personal injury, death, property damage or other loss related to the person's errors or emissions in performance of voluntary professional service. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 149, H-Judiciary HB 1394 Fite, Charlene (R) Prescribes conditions for administering an abortion-inducing drug, including required three office visits by the patient and use of the approved drug only in a medical facility and under supervision of a physician. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. -
HB 1395 Gossage, Bill (R) Allows approved public school personnel to administer medication for diabetes to students. 2-24-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 138, H-Education HB 1396 Meeks, David (R) Creates a Health Care Compact among the states, with member states taking appropriate action to return the authority to regulate health care to the member states. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - HB 1397 Branscum, David (R) Exempts from state income tax a community match incentive received by a taxpayer under the Community Match Rural Physician Recruitment Program. 2-18-15 H Introduced and referred to H- Revenue and Taxation HB 1407 Hammer, Kim (R) Requires disposal of human tissue by medical facilities be done in a respectful manner and that a dead fetus not be disposed of for 48 hours after its removal without written consent from the mother. 2-19-15 H Introduced and referred to H- Public Health, Welfare and HB 1417 Womack, Richard (R) Rapert, Jason (R) Revises health benefit plan coverage requirements for craniofacial anomaly reconstructive surgery; requires approval of procedure by cleft-craniofacial team approved by the American Cleft Palate- Craniofacial Association. 2-19-15 H Introduced and referred to H- Insurance and Commerce HB 1421 Bentley, Mary (R) Bledsoe, Cecile (R) Requires abortion clinics to have on the premises at the time of an abortion a physician with admitting privileges at a licensed hospital within 30 miles of the clinic. 2-19-15 H Introduced and referred to H- Public Health, Welfare and HB 1422 Bell, Nate (R) English, Jane (R) Makes various changes to elections and changes the dates on which certain elections can be held, including local option elections, school elections, college tax levy elections, voluntary fire department levies, referendum elections, etc. 2-19-15 H Introduced and referred to H- State Agencies HB 1423 Bell, Nate (R) Requires 90% of punitive damage awards to be judged in favor of the state for deposit in the Tax Relief Fund (created herein) to
become general revenues and be used as directed by the General Assembly. 2-19-15 H Introduced and referred to H- Revenue and Taxation HCR1004 Gillam, Jeremy (R) Extends the session until April 10, with sine die adjournment May 8 unless the assembly is called to reconvene. 2-11-15 S Resolution concurred (Vote: Y: 33/N: 1) HJR1002 Douglas, Dan (R) Proposes an amendment to the Constitution to eliminate the even-year fiscal session of the General Assembly. 1-29-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HJR1005 Shepherd, Matthew (R) Allows Supreme Court Justices to run for retention of their office at the expiration of their term; creates a Judicial Nominating Commission for nominating replacements for Supreme Court vacancies. 2-10-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HJR1008 Gates, Mickey (R) Constitutional amendment repealing the requirement that public notices be printed in newspapers and allowing the General Assembly to set the manner in which required public notices will be published. 2-11-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HJR1009 Davis, Andy (R) An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution authorizing the General Assembly to enact law concerning rules of pleading, practice and procedure in civil cases. (Shell bill) 2-11-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HJR1010 Davis, Andy (R) An amendment to the Arkansas Constitution amending provisions related to court rules and procedures related to civil claims. (Shell bill) 2-11-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HJR1011 Davis, Andy (R) Amends the Arkansas Constitution to authorize the General Assembly to enact laws regulating the award of damages in civil cases. (Shell bill) 2-11-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HJR1012 Bell, Nate (R) Amends the Arkansas Constitution authorizing the General Assembly to enact law declaring a lone candidate for office to be
elected without appearing on the election ballot. 2-11-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HJR1014 Dotson, Jim (R) Amends the Arkansas Constitution concerning judicial procedures related to civil litigation. (Shell bill) 2-11-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HJR1015 Dotson, Jim (R) Amends the Arkansas Constitution concerning the election of judges. (Shell bill) 2-11-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HJR1016 Dotson, Jim (R) Amends the Arkansas Constitution concerning the award of damages an evidentiary procedures in civil cases, and the election of judges. (Shell bill) 2-11-15 H Introduced and referred to Joint HR 1005 Boyd, Justin (R) Encourages collaboration among various agencies in the effort to reduce prescription drug abuse. 2-2-15 H Adopted HR 1012 Boyd, Justin (R) Encourages the US Congress to continue investigations into the rising cost of generic prescription drugs and to undertake a review of regulations that may prevent timely approval of medications. 2-10-15 H Withdrawn from further consideration HR 1013 Boyd, Justin (R) Encourages Congress to investigate recent increases in the cost of generic medications. 2-18-15 H Adopted SB 2 Dismang, Jonathan (R) To amend laws concerning legislative review and approval of administrative rules and to implement the newly approved Amendment 42 to Article 5 of the Constitution. (Shell bill) SB 4 Cooper, John (R) Lundstrum, Robin (R) 1-29-15 S Meeting set for Upon Adjournment - OSC, S-State Agencies Allows terminally ill patients to access investigational or unapproved treatments after considering all other treatment options with a physician; allows manufacturers to make such treatments available to terminal patients. 2-23-15 H Placed on the House calendar
SB 6 Dismang, Jonathan (R) Gillam, Jeremy (R) Makes various changes to income tax tables, sets the capital gains tax exemption at 40% (currently at 50% as of 2015), and repeals the 100% capital gains tax exemption for gains over ten million dollars. 2-6-15 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 22) SB 46 Hutchinson, Jeremy (R) Authorizes court-ordered lifetime supervision and monitoring for certain sex offenders who have been either sentenced or acquitted and transferred to the custody of the State Hospital. SB 53 Irvin, Missy (R) Mayberry, Julie (R) Companions: 2-4-15 S Reported from committee - Do pass as amended no. 2, S-Judiciary Requires prescribing physician be present during administration of abortion-inducing drugs; requires attempt to ensure the patient returns for confirmation of the termination and assessment of patient's condition. HB 1076 (Related) 2-19-15 H Passed (Vote: Y: 85/N: 3) SB 56 Woods, Jon (R) Fite, Charlene (R) Requires sex offenders to report required information to local law enforcement agencies rather than the Arkansas Crime Information Center; requires reporting of volunteer work by offenders; requires homeless offenders to verify registration every 30 days. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 149, H-Judiciary SB 78 SB 81 Stubblefield, Gary (R) Ballinger, Bob (R) Hickey, Jimmy (R) Hickerson, Mary (R) Exempts physicians from liability for damages resulting from the administration of anesthetics by a certified registered nurse anesthetist unless the damage was the result of the physician's gross negligence or misconduct. 2-18-15 S Committee Motion for Do Pass Failed (Vote: Y: 4/N: 2) Repeals the law regarding operation of motorboats while intoxicated and adds the offense of boating while intoxicated to the omnibus DWI laws; revises certain sentencing and suspension guidelines for subsequent DWI or BWI offenses. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 149, H-Judiciary SB 88 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the Office of Medicaid Inspector General 2015-16 operations. 1-22-15 S Introduced and referred to Joint Budget
SB 95 Woods, Jon (R) Neal, Micah (R) Creates a sales tax exemption for sales to service organizations such as the Lions Club, a masonic lodge, a local club of Optimist International, etc. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - OSC, S-Revenue and Taxation SB 96 Hendren, Jim (R) Creates the Arkansas Health Reform Legislative Task Force for recommending alternative healthcare coverage models. 2-11-15 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 46) SB 98 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the DHS Division of Developmental Disabilities Services for 2015-16 operations. 1-26-15 S Introduced and referred to Joint Budget SB 99 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the DHS Division of Youth Services for 2015-16 operations. 2-11-15 S Amendment 1 adopted SB 100 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the DHS Division of Behavioral Health for 2015-16 operations. 2-11-15 S Amendment 1 adopted SB 101 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to the DHS Division of Medical Services for 2015-16 operations. 2-6-15 G Signed by the Governor (Act: 41) SB 102 Joint Budget Appropriates funds to UAMS for 2015-16 operations. SB 133 Bledsoe, Cecile (R) Ferguson, Deborah (D) 2-23-15 S Placed on the Senate calendar Creates the Telemedicine Act, which requires coverage for healthcare services delivered through telemedicine on the same basis that in-person services are covered. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - SB 135 Cooper, John (R) Sullivan, Dan (R) Companions: Restricts the types of reimbursement models that may be used in the indigent medical care program; directs AHCIP carriers to participate in any applicable healthcare initiative, rather than only the Health Care Payment Improvement Initiative. SB 273 (Related) 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. -
SB 143 Hutchinson, Jeremy (R) Clarifies the laws governing dental practice. (Shell bill) 2-10-15 S Meeting cancelled for 02/11/15, S-Public Health, Welfare and SB 144 Collins-Smith, Linda (R) Terminates the Health Care Independence Program and Arkansas' participation in Medicaid Expansion; repeals the Health Care Independence Act of 2013. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - SB 150 Johnson, David (D) Allows patients to receive their medical records in electronic form on a voluntary basis; limits the fee for electronic record delivery to $20.00. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - SB 161 Hutchinson, Jeremy (R) Whitaker, David (D) Provides an affirmative defense to prosecution for possession of alcohol by persons age 18-20 when they initiate emergency medical assistance for another person and remain on the scene to cooperate with emergency personnel. 2-18-15 S Pulled down with no committee motion S-Judiciary SB 175 Rapert, Jason (R) Appropriates $15,000,000 to the Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities Services for construction and maintenance of Human Development Centers for the current 2014-2015 fiscal year. 2-11-15 S Amendment 1 adopted SB 178 Clark, Alan (R) Directs the DHS to terminate coverage under the Health Care Independence Act and restore the Medicaid waivers that were in place before October 1, 2013. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - SB 204 English, Jane (R) Brown, Karilyn (R) Restricts the basis upon which the Attorney General may enter into contingency fee contracts with private attorneys; provides enhanced transparency requirements for such contracts. 2-19-15 H Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 149, H-Judiciary SB 211 Clark, Alan (R) Requires the Department of Workforce Services to prepare an annual report of
employment and earnings outcomes for degrees and certificates offered by statesupported institutions and to make that information available to students and parents. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 207, S-Education SB 218 Clark, Alan (R) Allows access to student records by eligible students and parents and requires the Department of Education to develop policies for compliance and security. Specifies data to be available in the student record. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - Room 207, S-Education SB 273 Irvin, Missy (R) Prohibits certain models of health care reimbursement for treatment of indigent persons. Companions: SB 135 (Related) 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - SB 299 Johnson, David (D) Tucker, Clarke (D) Makes various changes to provisions for the voluntary and involuntary admission of mentally ill patients and creates the option for their assisted outpatient treatment 2-18-15 S Amendment 1 adopted SB 312 Clark, Alan (R) Ends health care coverage under the Health Care Independence Program effective Dec. 31, 2016. Restores previous Medicaid waiver programs. 2-18-15 S Committee Motion for Do Pass Failed SB 316 Irvin, Missy (R) Prohibits insurance providers from requiring patients with a terminal illness to obtain prior authorization for pain medication coverage. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - SB 318 Irvin, Missy (R) Prohibits insurance carriers from requiring prior authorization for emergency services; requires notice in advance of changes to prior authorization criteria; requires coverage of emergency services to evaluate and stabilize a patient. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - SB 343 Hendren, Jim (R) Prohibits the establishment of an Arkansas state-based health insurance exchange under
the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. (Shell bill) 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - SB 349 Clark, Alan (R) Gates, Mickey (R) Reduces the duration of early voting from the 15 days prior to an election to Monday through Saturday of the week before the election; prohibits early voting on the Monday prior to an election. 2-19-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - OSC, S-State Agencies SB 353 Maloch, Bruce (D) Appropriates $500,000 to the Economic Development Commission from the General Improvement Fund for grants of $250,000 to local entities for capital projects and $250,000 to health related facilities. 2-23-15 S Placed on the Senate calendar SB 382 Williams, Eddie Joe (R) Bell, Nate (R) Requires a study of consolidating state agencies into ten principal departments; specifies entities that would be transferred to the ten named departments. 2-19-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - OSC, S-State Agencies SB 391 Hendren, Jim (R) Increases the portion of funds received from the Tobacco Settlement transferred to the Medicaid Expansion Program Account from 29.8% to 34.2%. 2-23-15 S Placed on the Senate calendar SB 394 Chesterfield, Linda (D) Allows authorized entities to use autoinjectable epinephrine from a single-use device for emergency treatment of persons having a severe reaction to an insect sting or other allergic reaction. 2-18-15 S Meeting set for 10:00 a.m. - SB 447 Teague, Larry (D) Adds e-cigarettes to the definitions of smoking and tobacco. 2-19-15 S Introduced and referred to S- Public Health, Welfare and SB 457 Hester, Bart (R) Amends provisions related to the practice of ophthalmic dispensers. (Shell bill) 2-19-15 S Introduced and referred to S- Public Health, Welfare and SB 466 Irvin, Missy (R) Requires health benefits plans to publish on its website all drug formulary costs, benefits, and expenses for prescription drug coverage
in clear and ordinary terms, effective beginning January 1, 2017. 2-19-15 S Introduced and referred to S- Public Health, Welfare and SJR 1 Williams, Eddie Joe (R) To propose an amendment to the Constitution regarding civil claims and court procedures. (shell resolution) 1-12-15 S Introduced and referred to S- State Agencies SJR 8 King, Bryan (R) Amends the constitution concerning court procedures applicable to civil litigation. (Shell Resolution) 2-11-15 S Introduced and referred to S- State Agencies SJR 12 Williams, Eddie Joe (R) Amends the Arkansas Constitution concerning the power of the General Assembly related to the judicial department of government. (Shell bill) 2-11-15 S Introduced and referred to S- State Agencies SJR 14 Hutchinson, Jeremy (R) Amends the Arkansas Constitution to limit the amount of punitive damages that may be awarded in civil cases. 2-11-15 S Introduced and referred to S- State Agencies SJR 15 Johnson, David (D) Amends the Arkansas Constitution concerning court procedures pertaining to civil claims. (Shell bill) 2-11-15 S Introduced and referred to S- State Agencies SR 11 Elliott, Joyce (D) Commends Elizabeth Callan Flanagan Bumpers for her work to promote childhood immunization. 2-18-15 S Filed