Committee clears repeal of defunct Healthcare Workers Resources Act

Senator Daniels told the committee that Senate Bill 1425 would remove a defunct Healthcare Workers Resources Act and its assistance program and board from statute. "This is the Healthcare Workers Resources Act, and the assistance program and board that went along with it," Daniels said, noting the statute touched Commerce, Education and Healthcare and that the scholarships it once authorized were contingent on available funds and no longer active.

Daniels said the functions previously associated with the statute are now housed at the Department of Commerce and that stakeholders contacted during drafting support removing the obsolete statute. Senator Goodwin asked whether any funds might remain tied to the statute; Daniels said she had found no record of remaining monies and that the measure did not involve ARPA funding.

After brief questions and no amendments, the committee approved the bill by voice vote; the clerk recorded 9 ayes and 0 nays and the chair declared Senate Bill 1425 passed out of committee.