Bill Summary – FastDemocracy

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
                                           Act 430 of the Regular Session
 State of Arkansas                    As Engrossed:      H3/11/21
 93rd General Assembly                        A Bill
 Regular Session, 2021                                                             SENATE BILL 212
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 By: Senators K. Hammer, Irvin
 By: Representatives Warren, Cloud
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                                   For An Act To Be Entitled
                AN ACT TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS PANS/PANDAS ADVISORY
                COUNCIL; TO DECLARE AN EMERGENCY; AND FOR OTHER
                PURPOSES.
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                                               Subtitle
                         TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS PANS/PANDAS
                         ADVISORY COUNCIL; AND TO DECLARE AN
                         EMERGENCY.
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 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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        SECTION 1.        Arkansas Code Title 23, Chapter 79, Subchapter 19, is
 amended to add additional sections to read as follows:
        23-79-1903.        Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council  Creation 
 Membership  Duties.
        (a)    There is created the Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council to
 consist of the following members:
                (1)      Two (2) members of the House of Representatives appointed by
 the Speaker of the House of Representatives;
                (2)      Two (2) members of the Senate appointed by the President Pro
 Tempore of the Senate;
                (3)      One (1) member who is a medical professional with two (2)
 years of professional experience working with PANS/PANDAS patients, appointed
 by the Governor;
                (4)      One (1) member who is a medical professional with two (2)
 years of professional experience working with PANS/PANDAS patients, appointed
     *ANS052*                                                                    03-11-2021 09:54:02 ANS052
     As Engrossed:        H3/11/21                                                   SB212
 by the council;
                (5)    The Secretary of the Department of Health or his or her
 designee, serving as an ex officio nonvoting member;
                (6)    The Insurance Commissioner or his or her designee, serving
 as an ex officio nonvoting member;
                (7)    Three (3) members appointed by the Governor who are employed
 by a public school district, one (1) member to be a public school nurse, one
 (1) member to be a public school counselor, and one (1) member to be a public
 school teacher;
                (8)    One (1) member who is designated by the Arkansas Hospital
 Association, Inc.;
                (9)    One (1) member who is designated by the Arkansas State Board
 of Nursing;
                (10)    One (1) member who is designated by the Arkansas
 Pharmacist's Association;
                (11)    One (1) member who is designated by the American Academy of
 Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology;
                (12)    Two (2) members who are parents, appointed by the Governor;
 and
                (13)    One (1) member who is designated by the Arkansas Medical,
 Dental, and Pharmaceutical Association, Inc.
       (b)(1)     Upon appointment to the council, the initial members shall draw
 lots to determine the length of their terms.
                (2)    Appointments shall be for a term of four (4) years.
                (3)    Vacancies on the council shall be filled in the same manner
 as provided for the initial appointment.
                (4)    The new appointee shall serve for the remainder of the
 unexpired term.
       (c)   Members shall serve at the pleasure of the organizations they
 represent or of the Governor, as indicated.
       (d)(1)     The President Pro Tempore of the Senate shall appoint the Chair
 of the Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council who shall be one (1) of the
 legislative members of the council.
                (2)    The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint
 the Vice Chair of the Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council who shall be one
 (1) of the legislative members of the council.
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     As Engrossed:           H3/11/21                                                   SB212
          (e)(1)     A majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
                   (2)    A majority vote of those members present shall be required
 for any action of the council.
          (f)(1)     The council shall meet as often as is deemed necessary by the
 chair.
                   (2)    The council shall meet at the State Capitol Building in
 Little Rock, Arkansas.
          (g)   Legislators shall be paid per diem and mileage as authorized by
 law for attendance at meetings of interim committees of the General Assembly.
          (h)(1)     The council shall receive staff support from the Bureau of
 Legislative Research.
                   (2)    The council shall receive assistance from the Children's
 Postinfectious Autoimmune Encephalopathy Center of Excellence at the
 University of Arizona Steele Children's Research Center with the preparation
 of any reports required by this subchapter.
          (i)   The council may:
                   (1)    Make recommendations designed to improve and increase
 knowledge and develop mechanisms to increase clinical awareness and treatment
 throughout the state for pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric syndrome,
 also known as "PANS", and pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders
 associated with streptococcal infections, also known as "PANDAS", especially
 for healthcare professionals;
                   (2)    Operate along with the interdisciplinary panel on
 PANS/PANDAS at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences to determine
 quarterly information, including case statistics, outcome measures, and other
 relevant information;
                   (3)    Make recommendations concerning standard practice guidelines
 for the diagnosis and treatment of PANS/PANDAS for adult and pediatric
 patients who have been diagnosed with PANS/PANDAS;
                   (4)    Provide outreach to educators and parents;
                   (5)    Develop a network of volunteer experts on PANS/PANDAS to
 serve as resources within this state; and
                   (6)    Consider any related topics associated with the council's
 charge.
          (j)(1)     The council shall report to the Senate Committee on Insurance
 and Commerce, the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce, the Senate
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     As Engrossed:    H3/11/21                                                      SB212
 Committee on Public Health, Welfare, and Labor, and the House Committee on
 Public Health, Welfare, and Labor, as requested.
            (2)    The report described in subdivision (j)(1) of this section
 shall be submitted to the Legislative Council for final review.
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      23-79-1904.    Sunset.
      This subchapter shall expire on December 31, 2023, unless extended by
 the General Assembly.
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      SECTION 2.    TEMPORARY LANGUAGE.      DO NOT CODIFY.   Arkansas PANS/PANDAS
 Advisory Council  Appointment of members.
      The members of the Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council shall be
 appointed by May 1, 2021.
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      SECTION 3.    EMERGENCY CLAUSE.       It is found and determined by the
 General Assembly of the State of Arkansas that pediatric acute-onset
 neuropsychiatric syndrome, also known as "PANS", and pediatric autoimmune
 neuropsychiatric disorders associated with streptococcal infections, also
 known as "PANDAS", are misunderstood disorders that affect pediatric and
 adult patients in Arkansas, and the Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council has
 been working to inform healthcare providers and healthcare insurers about
 options available to treat PANS and PANDAS, but members of the Arkansas
 PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council have been limited in their work by the fear of
 exposure to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe acute respiratory
 syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), or mutations of either of those
 respective viruses; that numerous healthcare providers and healthcare
 insurers do not have sufficient knowledge about PANS and PANDAS to adequately
 respond to requests for treatment and coverage, and due to the effects of
 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe acute respiratory syndrome
 coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), or mutations of either of those respective
 viruses, on the people of this state, the Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory
 Council has ongoing projects that need immediate attention; that the Arkansas
 PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council expired December 31, 2020; and that this act is
 immediately necessary to allow the Arkansas PANS/PANDAS Advisory Council to
 continue to provide education to healthcare providers and healthcare insurers
 about the treatment and impact of PANS/PANDAS on patients and their families.
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     As Engrossed:    H3/11/21                                                 SB212
 Therefore, an emergency is declared to exist, and this act being immediately
 necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health, and safety shall
 become effective on:
            (1)    The date of its approval by the Governor;
            (2)    If the bill is neither approved nor vetoed by the Governor,
 the expiration of the period of time during which the Governor may veto the
 bill; or
            (3)    If the bill is vetoed by the Governor and the veto is
 overridden, the date the last house overrides the veto.
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                                  /s/K. Hammer
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                                APPROVED: 3/24/21
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