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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
database; health professionals; license revocations
Purpose
Requires health professional regulatory boards to report health professional license or certification revocations to the Department of Health Services (DHS) for inclusion in a state database. Delays the effective date of the requirement that applicants for initial nursing care institution administrator licensure or assisted living facility manager certification submit a full set of fingerprints for a criminal background check from January 1, 2023, to on or before July 1, 2024.
Background
In statute, health professionals includes podiatrists, chiropractors, dentists, medical physicians and surgeons, naturopathic physicians, nurses, dispensing opticians, optometrists, osteopathic physicians and surgeons, pharmacists, physical therapists, psychologists, veterinarians, physician assistants, radiologic technologists, homeopathic physicians, behavioral health professionals, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, acupuncturists, athletic trainers, massage therapists, nursing care institution administrators, assisted living facilities managers, midwifes, audiologists and speech pathologists (A.R.S. § 32-3201).
Each health professional is licensed and certified through their respective health professional regulatory board. When health professionals are suspected of committing an act of unprofessional conduct they are investigated and addressed through the applicable licensing entity or regulatory board, potentially resulting in suspension or revocation of licensure (A.R.S. Title 32; A.R.S. Title 36).
Beginning January 1, 2023, the Board of Examiners of Nursing Care Institution Administrators and Assisted Living Facility Managers must require each applicant for initial nursing care institution administrator licensure or assisted living facility manager certification to submit a full set of fingerprints for a state and federal criminal history records check (A.R.S. § 36-446.03).
The Joint Legislative Budget Committee estimates that S.B. 1333 would generate one-time costs of $125,100 to develop the database, with annual ongoing costs of approximately $5,000.
Provisions
1. Requires health profession regulatory boards to report to DHS:
a) the revocation of a health professional's license or certification; and
b) all license and certification revocations that occurred between July 1, 2019, and July 1, 2024.
2. Requires DHS, by July 1, 2024, to create a searchable online database that is posted on its website and, at a minimum, contains:
a) the names of health professionals who have had a license or certification revoked or suspended within the preceding five years;
b) the date of the revocation; and
c) the health profession regulatory board that revoked the license or certification.
3. Requires DHS to inform the health profession regulatory boards of the information required to be submitted for the database.
4. Delays the effective date of the requirement that applicants for initial nursing care institution administrator licensure or assisted living facility manager certification submit a full set of fingerprints for a criminal background check from January 1, 2023, to on or before July 1, 2024.
5. Makes technical changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
1. Delays the effective date of the requirement that applicants for initial nursing care institution administrator licensure or assisted living facility manager certification submit a full set of fingerprints for a criminal background check from January 1, 2023, to on or before July 1, 2024.
2. Makes technical changes.
Senate Action House Action
HHS 2/7/23 DP 6-0-1 RA 3/15/23 DP 7-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/21/23 28-1-1 3rd Read 5/3/23 44-11-4
Prepared by Senate Research
May 3, 2023
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