The bill proposes appropriations for personal services and operating expenses for various licensing and regulation boards under the Department of Health for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. It includes specific funding allocations for boards such as the Arkansas State Board of Acupuncture and Related Techniques, which will receive $11,000, and the Arkansas State Medical Board, allocated $3,587,549. New provisions in the bill establish maximum employee counts for each board and authorize temporary or part-time positions as necessary. Additionally, it introduces funding for the Nursing Student Loan Program amounting to $100,000 and for Nursing Education Workshops totaling $16,325, reflecting a comprehensive approach to supporting health-related regulatory boards.

Furthermore, the bill outlines provisions for the employment of legal counsel by state agencies, mandating that the Attorney General's Office provide legal services or certify the need for outside counsel, which must be approved by the Arkansas Legislative Council or Joint Budget Committee. It also allows certain boards to allocate funds to support 501(c)(3) foundations assisting healthcare professionals with substance abuse issues and requires the Arkansas State Board of Chiropractic Examiners to contract outside investigators for consumer complaints. An emergency clause is included to ensure the bill's immediate effectiveness at the start of the fiscal year, with provisions effective from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.