The bill proposes to establish specific maximum clinical hour requirements for nursing students enrolled in various degree programs in Arkansas. It introduces a new section, 6-61-142, to the Arkansas Code, which outlines the maximum direct patient care hospital clinical hours that nursing programs can require. The specified limits are set at 500 hours for licensed practical nursing programs, 450 hours for associate's degree nursing programs, 600 hours for Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs, and a variable amount for master's or doctoral nursing programs based on accrediting standards.

This legislation aims to standardize clinical hour requirements across nursing programs, ensuring equity in the training and education of nursing students. By setting these limits, the bill seeks to enhance the quality of nursing education while also addressing potential disparities in clinical training experiences among different nursing programs.