Arkansas Bill Regarding Referrals on Prenatal Drug Exposure (HB 1452)

This law was last updated on Aug 6, 2019

State

Arkansas

Number

HB 1452

Status

Current

Proposed

Feb 13, 2019

Topics

Substance Abuse During Pregnancy

Full Bill Text

www.arkleg.state.ar.us

HB 1452 amends state law concerning referrals on children born with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder to include children exposed to prenatal drug exposure.

The bill requires health-care providers to contact the state Department of Human Services when an infant has been born with and affected by:

Maternal substance abuse resulting in prenatal drug exposure to an illegal or a legal substance; or
Withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure to an illegal or a legal substance.

Health-care providers must share all pertinent information information, including health information, with the department.

The department must accept referrals, calls, and other communications from health-care providers involved in the delivery or care of infants born with and affected with by prenatal drug exposure.

The bill requires a plan of safe care to be developed for infants affected by any prenatal drug exposure, which must be designed to ensure the safety and well-being of the infant following the release of the infant from the care of a health-care provider. The plan would need to include content that addresses the health and substance use disorder treatment needs of the infant and affected family or caregiver.

Latest Action

2/13/19 – Introduced; referred to House Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee.

3/4/19 – Passed the House by a 95-0 vote.

3/26/19 – Passed the Senate by a 35-0 vote.

3/29/19 – Signed into law by Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson.