HB1653

House Bill 1653 transfers the regulatory and licensing authority for psychiatric residential treatment facilities (PRTFs) in Arkansas from the Child Welfare Agency Review Board to the Department of Human Services (DHS). The bill establishes specific standards for PRTF licensure, including requirements for accreditation, compliance with federal Medicaid conditions, and certification of need for services. It also creates a path for the Health Services Permit Agency to authorize exceptions to the existing moratorium on bed capacity, allowing up to 900 additional beds for PRTFs. The legislation mandates that new facility construction or significant renovations undergo approval by the Health Services Permit Agency and the Legislative Council. Additionally, the bill updates definitions, streamlines administrator licensing procedures, and establishes criminal penalties for operating an unlicensed PRTF or falsifying applications. It includes an emergency clause to enact these changes immediately upon becoming law.