Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas
2 94th General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2023 HOUSE BILL 1644
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5 By: Representatives Scott, V. Flowers
6 By: Senator L. Chesterfield
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8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
10 HOTLINE IN ARKANSAS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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13 Subtitle
14 TO ESTABLISH THE MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH
15 HOTLINE IN ARKANSAS.
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18 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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20 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 20, Chapter 47, Subchapter 1, is
21 amended to add an additional section to read as follows:
22 20-47-110. Maternal Mental Health Hotline.
23 (a)(1) The Department of Health shall establish the "Maternal Mental
24 Health Hotline".
25 (2) The department may contract with vendors to maintain the
26 Maternal Mental Health Hotline.
27 (b)(1) The Maternal Mental Health Hotline shall be staffed twenty-four
28 (24) hours per day and shall have statewide accessibility through a toll-free
29 telephone number.
30 (2) The toll-free telephone number under this section shall be
31 known as the “Maternal Mental Health Hotline”.
32 (3)(A) The Maternal Mental Health Hotline shall be part of the
33 National Maternal Mental Health Hotline network by utilizing existing
34 telephone, text, and online chat communications.
35 (B) The Maternal Mental Health Hotline shall meet all
36 accreditation requirements set forth by the United States Health Resources
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 HB1644
1 and Services Administration.
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3 (c) All persons may use the Maternal Mental Health Hotline to assist
4 with maternal depression and substance use screenings before, during, and
5 after pregnancy.
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