(a) The General Assembly finds and declares that this subchapter is necessary to assist those areas of critical medical shortage in the State of Arkansas in recruiting and retaining physicians to meet the primary medical care needs of the citizens residing in these areas.
(b)
(1) It is the intent of the General Assembly to grant authority to the Arkansas State Medical Board to issue temporary licenses to practice medicine in defined critical medical shortage areas for a specified period of time and under required conditions to be defined in § 17-95-503.
(2) It is the further intent of the General Assembly that the board utilize every means at its disposal under the laws of this state, including the authority granted by this subchapter, to increase the number of practicing physicians in the areas of critical medical shortage as defined in § 17-95-502.
(3) It is the further intent of this subchapter that neither the board nor the Executive Director of the Arkansas State Medical Board, when acting in behalf of the board and under authority granted to him or her by the board, shall be liable, collectively or individually, for civil damages from claims pertaining to the administration of this subchapter.