Bill > HB1384

This bill amends Arkansas law concerning the Graduate Medical Education Residency Expansion Board by renaming "planning grants" to "implementation grants" and expanding the board's responsibilities and grant-making criteria. The board will now allocate funds to in-state entities creating new or expanding existing graduate medical education programs, with a competitive grant process that considers factors such as developing programs in needed medical specialties, increasing positions in areas with physician shortages, and prioritizing programs with the earliest start dates. The bill introduces comprehensive definitions for key terms like "primary care," "residency program," and "sponsoring institution," and provides more detailed guidance on grant application requirements, including submission of timelines, budgets, program details, and letters of support. The implementation grants can now be awarded for the length of the program plus two additional years for start-up and accreditation purposes. The bill includes an emergency clause emphasizing the urgent need to address medical professional shortages in Arkansas, which allows the legislation to take effect immediately upon approval by the Governor.

Education

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=hb1384&ddBienniumSession=2025%2F2025R