Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H2/13/25 H2/19/25 S3/3/25
2 95th General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1213
4
5 By: Representatives Achor, Gramlich, L. Johnson
6 By: Senators C. Penzo, K. Hammer
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8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ATHLETIC TRAINERS ACT;
10 TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITION OF "ATHLETE" WITHIN THE
11 ARKANSAS ATHLETIC TRAINERS ACT; TO DEFINE "HEALTHCARE
12 PROVIDER" REGARDING STUDENT ATHLETE CONCUSSION
13 EDUCATION; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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15
16 Subtitle
17 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS ATHLETIC TRAINERS
18 ACT; TO CLARIFY THE DEFINITION OF
19 "ATHLETE"; AND TO DEFINE "HEALTHCARE
20 PROVIDER" REGARDING STUDENT ATHLETE
21 CONCUSSION EDUCATION.
22
23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
24
25 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 6-18-710(a), concerning definitions related
26 to student athlete concussion education, is amended to read as follows:
27 6-18-710. Student athlete concussion education -- Definition.
28 (a)(1) As used in this section:,
29 (1) "Healthcare provider" means an allopathic or osteopathic
30 physician, neuropsychologist, advanced practice registered nurse, certified
31 athletic trainer, physician assistant, or physical therapist; and
32 (2)(A) "Youth "youth athletic activity" means an organized
33 athletic activity in which the participants, a majority of whom are under
34 nineteen (19) years of age are:
35 (A)(i) Engaged in an athletic game or competition against
36 another team, club, or entity; or
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1 (B)(ii) In practice or preparation for an organized
2 athletic game or competition against another team, club, or entity.
3 (2)(B) "Youth athletic activity" does not include a college or
4 university activity or an activity that is incidental to a nonathletic
5 program.
6
7 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 6-18-710(c), concerning student athlete
8 concussion education, is amended to read as follows:
9 (c)(1) The Department of Health shall develop concussion protocols
10 substantially similar to those developed and implemented by the Arkansas
11 Activities Association to protect all youth athletes engaged in youth
12 athletic activities in Arkansas.
13 (2) The Department of Health shall provide an updated type of
14 healthcare provider list to the Arkansas Activities Association based on the
15 definition under subsection (a) of this section.
16
17 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code � 17-93-402 is amended to read as follows:
18 17-93-402. Definitions.
19 As used in this subchapter:
20 (1) "Athlete" means an individual who is participating in
21 organized athletic or team activities at the interscholastic, intramural,
22 intercollegiate, or professional level, or sanctioned recreational sports
23 activities activities of recreation, sport, exercise, or tactical duty;
24 (2) "Athletic injury or illness" means an injury or illness
25 sustained by the athlete as a result of participation in those organized
26 athletic or team activities activities of recreation, sport, exercise, or
27 tactical duty which require physical strength, agility, flexibility, range of
28 motion, speed, or stamina, or any comparable injury or illness to an athlete
29 which prevents the person from participating in activities described in
30 subdivision (1) of this section;
31 (3) "Athletic trainer" means a person licensed by the state to
32 engage in athletic training;
33 (4) "Athletic training" means the prevention, recognition,
34 evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of an athletic injury or illness
35 and the organization and administration of exercise, conditioning, and
36 athletic training programs;
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1 (5) "Clinical setting" means a hospital or outpatient clinic;
2 (6)(A) "Consultation" means the rendering by a physician of a
3 professional opinion, an expert opinion, or advice to an athletic trainer.
4 (B) "Consultation" may be provided through
5 telecommunication technology;
6 (7)(A) "Freestanding rehabilitation clinic" means a
7 rehabilitation clinic that is not located on the campus of a hospital or
8 healthcare system.
9 (B) "Freestanding rehabilitation clinic" does not include
10 a physician's office;
11 (8) "Direct supervision" means supervision of the athletic
12 trainer in a clinical setting freestanding rehabilitation clinic by the
13 supervising physical therapist or physician who is readily available for
14 consultation for the care of the athlete and is on the premises;
15 (7)(9) "Direction" means direction of the athletic trainer in a
16 nonclinical setting or physician's office by a physician who is readily
17 available for consultation for the care of the athlete but not necessarily on
18 the premises;
19 (8)(10) "License" means the document issued by the Arkansas
20 State Board of Athletic Training to a qualified person to practice athletic
21 training; and
22 (9) "Sanctioned recreational sports activities" means any
23 athletic or team activity which requires physical strength, agility,
24 flexibility, range of motion, speed, or stamina and meets one (1) or more of
25 the following:
26 (A) Has officially designated coaches who have the
27 responsibility for athletic activities of the organization;
28 (B) Has a regular schedule of practices or workouts which
29 are supervised by the officially designated coaches;
30 (C) Is an activity generally recognized as having an
31 established schedule of competitive events or exhibitions; and
32 (D) Has a policy requiring documentation of having passed
33 a preparticipation medical examination conducted by a licensed physician as a
34 condition for participation for the athletic activities of the organization
35 (11) "Tactical duty" means activities of law enforcement,
36 military, or rescue services.
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2 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code � 17-93-411 is amended to read as follows:
3 17-93-411. Direction and supervision.
4 (a) In a nonclinical setting, an athletic trainer may practice the art
5 and science of athletic training under the direction of a physician licensed
6 by the Arkansas State Medical Board.
7 (b)(1) The athletic trainer may practice athletic training in a
8 hospital or outpatient clinic under the direct supervision of a physical
9 therapist and upon the referral of a physician licensed in the State of
10 Arkansas or of a physician licensed by the board physician's office under the
11 direction or consultation of a physician licensed in this state.
12 (2) However, the physician shall retain moral, ethical, and
13 legal responsibility for patient care according to their specific medical
14 license.
15 (c) The athletic trainer may practice athletic training in a
16 freestanding rehabilitation clinic under the direct supervision of a physical
17 therapist and upon the referral of a physician licensed in this state.
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4 03-03-2025 13:50:42 JMB246Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.