(a) The Arkansas State Board of Nursing may create a data repository to collect, report, track, and trend data regarding nursing education and the nursing workforce in Arkansas for more timely and accurate tracking of the nursing education and nursing workforce throughout the state.(b) The data collection described in subsection (a) of this section shall include data relating to the root causes of nurse retention and nurse turnover throughout the state.(c)(1) The board shall create and establish an action plan for the nursing workforce in Arkansas to improve nurse availability across the state.(2) The action plan described in subdivision (c)(1) of this section shall be updated annually and include stakeholder feedback.(d) The board may contract with a non-state entity to fulfill the requirements of this section.(e) The board may apply for one-time funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2, if available and eligible, to fund the first two-years expense to create the data repository, but may not exceed five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) in funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, Pub. L. No. 117-2.Added by Act 2023, No. 673,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023.
Arkansas Legal Code