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 A Bill
2 95th General Assembly
3 Regular Session, 2025 HOUSE BILL 1419
4
5 By: Representative Steimel
6 By: Senator J. Boyd
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8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION
10 INSURANCE PLAN; TO REVISE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
11 FOR THE ARKANSAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION INSURANCE
12 PLAN; TO AMEND THE ADMINISTRATION AND PLAN SELECTION
13 PROCESS UNDER THE ARKANSAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION
14 INSURANCE PLAN; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
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17 Subtitle
18 TO AMEND THE ARKANSAS WORKERS'
19 COMPENSATION INSURANCE PLAN; AND TO
20 REVISE THE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
21 THE ARKANSAS WORKERS' COMPENSATION
22 INSURANCE PLAN.
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24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
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26 SECTION 1. Arkansas Code � 23-67-313 is amended to read as follows:
27 23-67-313. Competitive selection.
28 (a)(1) The Insurance Commissioner shall make a good faith effort to
29 comply with the intent of the provisions requiring competitive selection of
30 the administrator of the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Insurance Plan and
31 servicing carriers.
32 (2) The administrator and servicing carriers under subdivision
33 (a)(1) of this section shall be competitively selected no less often than
34 every three (3) years.
35 (3) Consideration for the selection of the administrator and
36 servicing carriers under subdivision (a)(1) of this section shall include
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1 cost, finances, operating and service capabilities, and the record of service
2 and other factors deemed necessary for the effective and proper operation of
3 the plan.
4 (b) The commissioner may suspend formal bidding for the administrator
5 provided that if:
6 (1) The commissioner has sought and compared other
7 administrative services available;
8 (2) The commissioner deems there to have been in the interim a
9 satisfactory improvement in administrator and servicing carrier performance;
10 (3) The commissioner judges continuation of the present
11 administrator subject to the modifications herein set forth and to hereafter
12 be under this section and promulgated by rule of the commissioner to be in
13 the best interests of Arkansas;
14 (4)(A) Coverage and service is adequately and properly provided
15 to Arkansas employers entitled to insurance, and coverage is provided in
16 other states for employees of Arkansas employers to the extent possible and
17 the proper coverage is in the best interests of the employers and plan
18 operations.
19 (B) Adequate coverage of employees while working on a
20 temporary or occasional basis in other states is essential to Arkansas
21 employers and employees; and
22 (5) The administrator has an office in Arkansas and the office
23 has the staff and authority necessary to properly serve Arkansas employers
24 and the commissioner in accordance with the provisions of this act under this
25 subchapter.
26 (b) The commissioner shall review the plan operations to ensure
27 compliance with this act. The commissioner shall review and report to the
28 Legislative Council and the Senate Committee on Insurance and Commerce and
29 the House Committee on Insurance and Commerce by September 1 of each year,
30 with the first report to be submitted no later than September 1, 1997,
31 including, but not limited to, the following information:
32 (1) Competitive selection of the administrator and servicing
33 carriers;
34 (2) Plan operating performance and service in accordance with
35 the intent of this act, including performance reviews of the administrator,
36 servicing carriers, and plan rules;
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1 (3) Proper authority and independence of the Arkansas office to
2 properly perform and secure prompt, fair, and reasonable service as required
3 by this act; and
4 (4) Coverage provided by the plan in other states, including
5 evidence providing that carriers promptly provide coverage for employees of
6 Arkansas employers working in other states as provided in this act.
7 (c) The commissioner is encouraged to hold public hearings as needed
8 to assist in achieving the objectives of this act and to assist with the
9 review and report provided to the Legislative Council and the Senate
10 Committee on Insurance and Commerce and the House Committee on Insurance and
11 Commerce.
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3 02/03/2025 4:11:54 PM ANS129Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.