Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 862 of the Regular Session
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State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/17/25 S4/8/25 1
95th General Assembly A Bill 2
Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1734 3
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By: Representative Childress 5
By: Senator K. Hammer 6
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For An Act To Be Entitled 8
AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DEATH 9
CERTIFICATES; TO CLARIFY THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS 10
WHO MAY SIGN A MEDICAL CERTIFICATE OF DEATH AND 11
PRONOUNCE DEATH OF A PATIENT; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. 12
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Subtitle 15
TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING DEATH 16
CERTIFICATES; AND TO CLARIFY THE MEDICAL 17
PROFESSIONALS WHO MAY SIGN A MEDICAL 18
CERTIFICATE OF DEATH AND PRONOUNCE DEATH 19
OF A PATIENT. 20
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: 22
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SECTION 1. Arkansas Code § 20-18-601(c)(3), concerning the signature 24
for a medical certification of death and the pronouncement of death, is 25
amended to read as follows: 26
(3)(A) A registered nurse employed by the attending hospice may 27
complete and sign the medical certification of death and pronounce death for 28
a patient who is terminally ill, whose death is anticipated, who is receiving 29
services from a hospice program certified under § 20 -7-117, and who dies in a 30
hospice inpatient program or as a hospice patient in a nursing home or 31
hospital. 32
(B) An advanced practice registered nurse may complete and 33
sign the medical certificate of death and pronounce death of a patient in a 34
hospital setting if the advanced practice registered nurse is given authority 35
by the medical staff of the hospital and a physician other than an emergency 36 As Engrossed: H3/17/25 S4/8/25 HB1734
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department physician is not immediately available. 1
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/s/Childress 3
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APPROVED: 4/17/25 6
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