Healthcare AI bill passes unanimously in the House

A bill preventing an artificial intelligence entity from providing healthcare services in the state moved forward Jan. 20 in the House by unanimous vote.

House Bill 191 is about creating boundaries in the healthcare industry since artificial intelligence is moving so fast, said bill sponsor Rep. Cindy Romer, D-Newark.

The bill clarifies that a nonhuman entity, including AI, cannot be licensed to practice as a nurse, physician, an APRN or a physician assistant, she said.

“This bill does not ban AI in healthcare; it simply ensures patients always know who is providing their care and who is accountable,” she said.

The bill moves on to the Senate for final approval.

Loan grants for optometrists

House Bill 250, sponsored by Rep. Jeff Hilovsky, R-Long Neck, with support from Sen. Russ Huxtable, D-Lewes, and Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall, D-Rehoboth Beach, unanimously passed the House, allowing optometrists to be eligible for the state’s loan repayment program.

Under the bill, two repayment grants under the Health Care Provider Loan Repayment Program would be given to optometrists to bring more providers to the area, Hilovsky said. The grant program allows repayment grants up to $50,000 per year to providers who commit to practicing in underserved areas of the state, usually for two to four years, he said.

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.

Bill aims to stop puppy mills

House Bill 131, sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport, seeks to prevent retail stores from selling dogs or cats, and authorizes those stores to collaborate with animal shelters or rescues to showcase pets for adoption. Williams said although there are no puppy mills in Delaware, the bill is meant to dry up demand for pets that come out of those kinds of establishments. The bill is focused on puppy mills and retail establishments, she said, not breeders.

Office of Animal Welfare Director Chris Motoyoshi said there are only three for-profit pet stores in the state, but one has sourced pets from a known pet broker that has had issues in the past. She added that she was not sure where pet stores obtain the bulk of their pets for sale.

Rep. Rich Collins, R-Millsboro, voted against the bill, saying he is against puppy mills, but he does not believe the bill will stop puppy mills from other states. 

“I don’t think this bill addresses it in any way,” he said.

The bill passed 33-4 with three absent and one not voting.