SB 68 Summary

• Appropriates funds for personal services and operating expenses of the Department of Health's licensing and regulation boards for fiscal year 2022-2023 (ending June 30, 2023)

• Establishes maximum employee counts and salary grades for 17 health professional licensing boards, including medical, nursing, pharmacy, dental, and psychology boards

• Total appropriations distributed across multiple boards, with largest amounts to Arkansas State Medical Board ($3,776,061), State Board of Nursing ($3,284,230), and Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission ($2,905,178)

• Includes special provisions allowing certain boards to contract for investigative services, employ outside counsel with Attorney General approval, and transfer funds between accounts with proper authorization

• Effective July 1, 2022; disbursement restricted to approved appropriations and subject to state procurement, accounting, budgetary, and fiscal control laws