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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
physician assistants; licensure; board
Purpose
Allows the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants (AZPA) to issue a new license to a physician assistant (PA) who surrendered a license if the applicant demonstrates satisfactory rehabilitation.
Background
The AZPA is responsible for licensing
qualified PAs and protecting the public from unlawful, incompetent,
unqualified, impaired or unprofessional PAs. The AZPA is authorized to
investigate any evidence that a PA is or may be medically incompetent, guilty of
unprofessional conduct or mentally or physically unable to carry out approved
health care tasks. If the AZPA finds that the information warrants suspension
or revocation of a PA's license, the AZPA must initiate formal proceedings for
the suspension or revocation of the PA's license. The AZPA can accept the
surrender of an active license from a person who admits to being unable to
safely engage in the practice of medicine, commits an act of unprofessional
conduct or violates any other
AZPA-related rule or statute (A.R.S. §§ 32-2504 and 32-2551).
The AZPA is permitted to issue a new license to a PA whose license was
previously revoked if the applicant demonstrates to the AZPA that the applicant
is completely rehabilitated with respect to the conduct that was the basis for
revocation. The AZPA must determine that:
1) the applicant has not engaged in any conduct during the revocation period
that would constitute a basis for revocation; 2) if a criminal conviction was
the basis of revocation, the applicant's civil rights have been fully restored;
3) the applicant has made restitution to any aggrieved person as ordered by the
court; and 4) the applicant demonstrates any other standard of rehabilitation
the AZPA determines to be appropriate. Statute requires an applicant for
licensure reinstatement to comply with all initial licensing requirements (A.R.S.
§ 32-2558).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows the AZPA to issue a new license to a PA who surrendered their license if the applicant demonstrates to the AZPA's satisfaction that the applicant is rehabilitated with respect to the conduct that was the basis for the surrender.
2. Entitles AZPA members to receive up to $200, rather than $200, for each day of AZPA service.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 11, 2021
CRS/kja