SB44 Summary

• Appropriates funds for personal services and operating expenses of the Department of Health's licensing and regulation boards for fiscal year 2024-2025, effective July 1, 2024.

• Establishes maximum employee counts and salary grades for 17 health licensing boards including the State Medical Board ($3.6 million), State Board of Nursing ($3.5 million), State Board of Pharmacy ($2.2 million), and Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission ($2.9 million).

• Authorizes $100,000 for nursing student loans, $400,000 for pharmacy student loans and scholarships, $200,000 for physical therapy scholarships, and $150,000 for psychology student scholarships.

• Permits specified health boards to expend per-licensee fees ($10-$30 per professional annually) to 501(c)(3) foundations for substance abuse treatment and monitoring programs for healthcare professionals.

• Requires Arkansas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners to contract for independent investigators for consumer complaints and file annual reports to legislative committees on investigations and findings.