Senate committee advances 'Earn to Learn' allowing some paid nursing work hours to count for clinical credit

Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee — The Senate Public Health committee voted to advance Senate Bill 299 on a voice vote after adopting a technical amendment that makes participation permissive rather than mandatory.

Senator Hammer closed the presentation and asked the committee for a favorable vote. The sponsor and witnesses described SB299, titled an 'Earn to Learn' program, as a pathway for students working in paid roles — such as patient care technicians — to have qualifying work hours converted to clinical hours required by nursing degree programs, provided those hours comply with the receiving program's requirements and state board of nursing regulations. "It allows them to earn some money while they're getting those clinical hours," the sponsor said, describing the bill as a way to relieve competition for clinical placements.

Ashley Davis, executive director of the Arkansas Center for Nursing, and Sarah Bemis, the center's education representative, told the committee the conversion would be capped in accordance with state board regulations and accreditation standards. Bemis said other states have used apprenticeship‑style programs that permit a portion of paid work hours to satisfy foundational clinical experiences, and that the approach can both increase the pipeline of licensed nurses and strengthen staffing at long‑term care and hospital facilities.

Committee members asked whether the bill would alter accreditation or regulatory standards; witnesses emphasized that any credited hours must meet the state board and program accreditation requirements. No members of the public appeared to oppose the bill during the committee hearing.

The committee adopted an amendment changing the bill's operative language from 'shall' to 'may' (permitting institutions to opt in) before voting. The chair announced the bill passed out of committee by voice vote.

SB299 will proceed according to the Senate's scheduling rules; the committee record indicates no recorded roll‑call tally in the transcript and the vote was taken by voice in committee.