Arkansas

An Arkansas licensing board can impose sanctions upon a health practitioner licensed in the state for conduct occurring outside of the state, a health practitioner licensed outside of the state for conduct occurring within the state for a declared emergency, or report to a licensing board outside the state regarding conduct occurring within the state by an out-of-state health practitioner. Click to Learn More

A health care professional who, in good faith, voluntarily, and without compensation, provides emergency care or assistance at the scene of an emergency or accident will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder who, in good faith, provides emergency management services and complies with, or attempts to comply with, rules from the requesting jurisdiction will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

An individual who, in good faith, voluntarily, and without compensation, provides goods or services will not be held legally responsible for injuries to a person or damages to property. They can be held legally responsible when they are covered by insurance, acting with extreme carelessness, or they operate a motor vehicle, aircraft, or boat with carelessness. The insurance exception does not apply to health care professionals. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, a registered architect or professional engineer who, voluntarily and without compensation, provide their services at the request of a government official will not be held legally responsible for any injury or death to a person or damage or loss of property related to the services they provided. They can be held legally responsible if they act with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This immunity is only applicable through the duration of a declared emergency and up to 90 days following. Click to Learn More

A volunteer health practitioner who provides health or veterinary services will not be held legally responsible for providing these services.  They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

A non-health care professional who believes that an injured person's life, health, or safety requires immediate care, and who, in good faith, provides care at the scene of an accident or emergency will not be held legally responsible. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

A physician assistant who, in good faith, voluntarily, and without compensation, provides emergency care or assistance at the scene of an emergency or accident will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Generally, Good Samaritan laws only offer protection for those individuals who provide care during spontaneous emergencies unrelated to volunteer deployment. Click to Learn More

A health care professional who, in good faith, directly, or by standing order, prescribes an opioid antagonist to an individual at risk of an opiate overdose, a pain management clinic, a harm reduction organization, an emergency medical services provider, a law enforcement officer, or a family member or friend of a person at risk of an opioid related drug overdose will not be held legally responsible for conduct regarding the opioid antagonist. A pharmacist who, in good fatih, dispenses an opioid antagonist will not be held legally responsible. Click to Learn More

An individual who relies on information provided by a volunteer health practitioner registration system will not be held legally responsible for the reliance or use of the information. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

An individual who owns or controls real estate and, voluntarily and without compensation, allows the use of the real estate for the purpose of sheltering people during an actual, impending, or mock disaster or attack will not be held legally responsible for causing the death or injury to a person on the real estate or the loss or damage to a person's property while on their real estate. This section extends to include the voluntary use of motor vehicles, boats, or aircraft. Click to Learn More

An individual who, in good faith and without compenstion, administers epinephrine to another person will not be held legally responsible for acting or failing to act. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This section includes a physician who provides epinephrine, someone who provides training for the use of epinephrine, the location where the epinephrine is used, and person holding a certificate. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder who, in good faith, complies, or attempts to comply, with rules and regulations will not be held legally responsible for activities related to the emergency aid resulting in death or injury to another person or damage to property. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, a professional engineer who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides professional services at the request of a government official will not be held legally responsible for injury or death to a person or damage or loss of property related to the services they provided. They can be held legally responsible if acting with extreme carelessness or intent to cause harm. This immunity is only applicable through the duration of a declared emergency and up to 90 days following. Click to Learn More

An individual who reasonably believes a person is experiencing an opioid related overdose and administers an opioid antagonist will not be held legally responsible. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder who acts pursuant to a compact, agreement, or arrangement for mutual aid will receive the same powers, immunities, and privileges in Arkansas or the requesting political subdivision as if they were in their home jurisdiction. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, an out-of-state business or employee in the state solely to perform work or services related to a declared emergency is not required to follow state licensing, certification, and registration requirements. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder is not required to possess a license, certificate, or permit for official recognition of their expertise unless the area of expertise requires a license, certificate, or permit to legally engage in the activity. Click to Learn More

Requirements for a license to practice a professional, mechanical, or other skills does not apply to an authorized emergency responder when they utilize their professional, mechanical, or other skills during their authorized activities. This section does not extend to medical professionals. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect or during a training exercise, an emergency responder who is requested to provide aid in another jurisdiction and holds a license, certificate, or permit will be considered licensed, certified, or permitted in the requesting jurisdiction. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, a volunteer health practitioner who is registered with a volunteer registration system and licensed in good standing in another state can practice in Arkansas as if they were licensed in the state. Click to Learn More

When an emergency declaration is in effect, an out-of-state registered architect who, voluntarily and without compensation, provides their services at the request of a government official is not required to become registered in Arkansas. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder who acts pursuant to a compact, agreement, or arrangement for mutual aid will receive the same powers, immunities, and privileges in Arkansas or the requesting political subdivision as if they were in their home jurisdiction. Click to Learn More

The Governor, county sheriff, or municipal law enforcement chief can authorize and request retired law enforcement officers to perform law enforcement functions. Click to Learn More

An ambulance service must contact the Arkansas State Board of Health prior to deploying to another state pursuant to federal, state, or private contract or agreement for disaster aid. Click to Learn More

A volunteer health or veterinary practitioner must follow the scope of practice for a similarly licensed practitioner within the state they are deploying to unless this scope of practice is beyond the volunteer's personal scope of practice. The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management or a host entity can restrict a practitioner's scope of practice. A volunteer health or veterinary practitioner does not engage in unauthorized practice unless they had reasonable knowledge of the limitation, modification, or restriction on their scope of practice. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder who acts pursuant to a compact, agreement, or arrangement for mutual aid will receive the same powers, immunities, and privileges in Arkansas or the requesting political subdivision as if they were in their home jurisdiction. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder who is injured or killed while providing aid to a requesting jurisdiction is entitled to the same workers' compensation as is available when they are within their home jurisdiction. Click to Learn More

A registered volunteer health practitioner injured or killed while engaging in emergency management duties ordered by the State or a political subdivision is entitled to workers' compensation from either the State or the political subdivision in control of the emergency management. Click to Learn More

An emergency responder injured or killed while engaging in emergency management duties ordered by the State or a political subdivision is entitled to workers' compensation from either the State or the political subdivision in control of the emergency management. Click to Learn More