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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
nursing shortage; plan; pilot program
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) to establish a working group, including a long-term plan and pilot program, to address the nursing shortage in Arizona.
Background
The Arizona Constitution establishes ABOR as the governing entity for Arizona's university system which consists of Arizona State University (ASU), Northern Arizona University (NAU) and the University of Arizona (UA) (Ariz. Const. art. 11 § 5). Statute provides and defines ABORs general authority related to the universities, including fixing tuition rates and fees, establishing curricula, designating courses and prescribing student admissions qualifications to the universities (A.R.S. § 15-1626).
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) was established in 1966 and consists of 16 committee members. JLBC makes recommendations regarding the state budget, evaluates state revenues and expenditures and projects future fiscal needs for the organization and function of state government.
Currently, there are 89,509 registered nurses and 7,922 nurse practitioners in Arizona (Arizona State Board of Nursing).
The fiscal impact of S.B. 1524 is currently unknown pending the ABOR FY 2021 budget request.
Provisions
1. Requires ABOR to appoint a working group that:
a) includes representatives from ASU, NAU and UA; and
b) establishes a long-term plan and pilot program to address the Arizona nursing shortage.
2. Requires ABOR to include the long-term plan and pilot program in its FY 2021 budget request to JLBC.
3. Repeals the working group on January 1, 2022.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 7, 2019
JO/CP/gs