Panel clears bill letting Arkansas health department use out-of-state criminal checks for EMS licensure

The Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee approved a bill clarifying authority for the Arkansas Department of Health to consider out‑of‑state and federal criminal records when reviewing applications for emergency medical services (EMS) licensure.

Representative Lee Johnson (District 47) presented the measure, saying it would remove doubt about whether offenses committed and adjudicated outside Arkansas or at the federal level could be used in licensing decisions for EMTs and paramedics. "This legislation is intended to clarify their authority to seek criminal background checks outside of our state," Johnson said.

Charles Thompson of the Arkansas Department of Health told the committee there would be no fiscal impact because background checks are still run through ACIC and the state police. "We do background checks now… we just have to…apply them to the licensure for somebody coming from out of state," Thompson said.

Members asked how the change relates to other health professions; staff noted EMS licensing appears in Title 20 rather than Title 17, and the bill brings EMS into alignment with other medical‑licensure background‑check practices. No public testimony opposed the bill and the committee approved it by voice vote.

The bill was passed out of committee and will go next to the full Senate for further consideration.