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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
health professionals data; repository; appropriation
Purpose
Creates the Health Care Professionals Workforce Data Repository (Repository) to collect information from health professionals and establishes an advisory committee as outlined.
Background
The Ad Hoc Committee on Health Care Workforce (Committee) was created to research and make recommendations for the collection and publication of relevant data concerning health care professions and the workforce. The Committee met on October 2, 2017, and December 18, 2017, and made the following recommendations: 1) that the Legislature adopt legislation that directs, by January 1, 2020, designated licensing Boards to collect workforce data, as part of the licensing renewal process; and 2) that the stakeholders, licensing boards and interested parties, in conjunction with the Arizona Area Health Education Centers assist in the process of preparing for future legislation.
Laws 2018, Chapter 293 established the Health Professionals Workforce Database (Database). Starting January 2, 2020, each health professional regulatory board will collect information from individuals seeking initial or renewal licenses, certification or registration. Personally identifiable information is confidential and is not a public record (A.R.S. § 32-3249.01).
A board means a health professional regulatory board that provides licensure, certification or registration and regulation and includes the Arizona Medical Board, Board of Nursing, Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery, Board of Psychologist Examiners and the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners (A.R.S. § 32-3249).
S.B. 1096 appropriates $50,000 and 0.5 full-time equivalent positions (FTE) from the state General Fund in FY 2020 to the Arizona Department of Health Services (DHS) to establish and maintain the Repository.
Provisions
1. Directs each board, beginning on January 2, 2021, rather than January 2, 2020, to request information for the Database from individuals seeking initial or renewal licenses, certification or registration.
2. Specifies information can be requested on an annual basis from the applicants as outlined.
3. Allows each board to maintain and use the data as outlined.
4. Directs each board to transfer the designated database information annually to DHS.
Health Care Professionals Workforce Data Repository (Repository)
5. Directs DHS to establish and maintain the Repository containing the data collected and transferred to DHS.
6. Allows DHS to assist the boards in complying with a standardized format and securely transferring the data.
7. Directs DHS to adopt rules which:
a) establish procedures to transfer data from the boards;
b) maintain data privacy and security;
c) specify conditions and agreements to release the data to maintain privacy and security; and
d) establish a fee to provide the data to persons requesting the information.
8. Stipulates the data is not a public record and DHS may release the data only:
a) subject to the conditions and agreements as required by rules;
b) without any personally identifiable information; and
c) for a fee that is not based on the intended use of the data.
Workforce Data Repository Fund (Fund)
9. Establishes the Fund consisting of legislative appropriations, collected fees and private gifts, grants, donations and contributions which are exempt from lapsing.
10. Directs DHS to administer the Fund which is continuously appropriated.
11. Allows the Director to accept and spend private gifts, grants, donations and contributions to administer the Repository and specifies monies do not revert to the state General Fund.
Health Care Professionals Workforce Data Repository Advisory Committee (Committee)
12. Establishes the Committee to advise the Director about rules and policies relating to the data repository.
13. Stipulates the Committee consists of between 14 to 15 members appointed by the Director and includes:
a) the Director or their designee, who serves as the chair;
b) one person representing each board that collects and transfers data to the repository;
c) at least two persons representing Arizona universities;
d) at least one person representing an Arizona community college;
e) at least one person representing a hospital in an Arizona county, with a population of at least 500,000 persons;
f) at least one person representing a hospital in an Arizona county, with a population less than 500,000 persons;
g) one person who is a behavioral health services provider;
h) one person who is an outpatient services provider; and
i) at least one person representing a nonprofit organization that conducts research and education related to health care.
14. Stipulates the Committee members serve three-year terms in a voluntary capacity but are eligible to receive reimbursement of expenses.
15. Terminates the Committee on July 1, 2027.
16. Appropriates $50,000 and 0.5 FTE positions from the state General Fund in FY 2020 to DHS to establish and maintain the Repository and assist boards in collecting and transferring data.
17. Makes technical and conforming changes.
18. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Appropriates $50,000 and 0.5 FTE positions in FY 2020 to establish and maintain the Repository.
2. Adds at least one Committee member representing a nonprofit organization that conducts research and education related to health care.
Senate Action
HEWD 1/28/19 DPA 7-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
January 29, 2019
JO/gs