SB4
An Act For The Department Of Health - Licensing And Regulation Boards Appropriation For The 2026-2027 Fiscal Year.
Last Action (April 1, 2026): Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to JOINT BUDGET COMMITTEE
Sponsors
AI-Generated Summary
This bill is an appropriations act for the Arkansas Department of Health, specifically funding various professional licensing and regulation boards for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It establishes the maximum number of regular and temporary employees for each board and allocates specific funding for personal services, operating expenses, professional fees, and other administrative costs. The boards covered include the Boards of Acupuncture, Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Athletic Training, Chiropractic Examiners, Counseling, Dental Examiners, Dietetics, Dispensing Opticians, Hearing Instrument Dispensers, the State Medical Board, and the State Board of Nursing. The bill authorizes funding from designated cash funds held in the State Treasury. It serves as a routine administrative function to ensure these regulatory bodies have the financial resources required to perform their licensing and oversight duties for the specified period. No substantive policy changes are introduced; the bill strictly addresses budgetary and personnel authorizations.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are the employees and administrative staff of the various licensing and regulation boards, who receive their salaries and operational budgets through this act. Additionally, the regulated professionals overseen by these boards benefit from the continued administrative and oversight functions of their respective governing bodies, which facilitate legal practice within the state. The public also indirectly benefits, as these boards are responsible for ensuring that health-related professionals meet state standards and follow regulatory requirements, thereby supporting professional accountability.
Who Might Suffer?
There are no groups or entities directly negatively impacted by this legislation in a meaningful way. As an appropriation bill designed to fund existing regulatory bodies for their standard operating functions, it does not impose new taxes, fees, or regulations. It simply formalizes the budget necessary for the boards to carry out their established duties, consistent with the standard budgetary process of the Arkansas General Assembly.
Get Notified
Receive an email when this bill's status changes.