TO PROVIDE CRIMINAL IMMUNITY FOR HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS FOR NEGLIGENT ACTS OR OMISSIONS.

HB 1168 would grant criminal immunity to healthcare professionals in Arkansas for negligent acts or omissions while lawfully providing healthcare services. It defines "healthcare professionals" broadly to include licensed individuals and employees at facilities like hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and mental health centers. The bill specifies this immunity applies only to criminal liability - leaving civil claims and existing legal protections unchanged. It directly affects healthcare providers by shielding them from criminal prosecution for negligence in patient care, without altering civil liability.