 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
VETOED
medical boards; complaints; time limit
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Medical Board (AMB) and the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery (ABOE) to take final action on a complaint unrelated to protecting the public health and safety within one year of receiving the complaint.
Background
The purpose of the AMB is to protect the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified, impaired or unprofessional practitioners of allopathic medicine through licensure, regulation and rehabilitation of the profession in Arizona. The AMB's powers and duties include: 1) ordering and evaluating physical, psychological, psychiatric and competency testing of licensed physicians and candidates for licensure; 2) initiating and determining whether a doctor of medicine has engaged in unprofessional conduct, provided incompetent medical care or is mentally or physically unable to engage in the practice of medicine; 3) developing and recommending standards governing the profession; 4) disciplining and rehabilitating physicians; and 5) adopting rules regarding the regulation and qualifications of doctors of medicine (A.R.S. § 32-1403).
The purpose of the ABOE is to protect the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified, impaired and unprofessional practitioners of osteopathic medicine. The ABOE's powers and duties include: 1) issuing licenses, conducting hearings, placing physicians on probation, revoking or suspending licenses, entering into stipulated orders and issuing letters of concern or decrees of censure; 2) maintaining a record of the ABOE's acts and proceedings, including the issuance, denial, renewal, suspension or revocation of licenses; 3) discipling and rehabilitating osteopathic physicians; and 4) adopting rules necessary or proper to administer the regulations of osteopathic medicine (A.R.S § 32-1803).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the AMB and the ABOE, or the respective executive director of the board if delegated, to take final action on a complaint unrelated to protecting the public health and safety within one year of receiving the complaint.
2. Deems the complaint administratively closed if final action is not taken within one year of receiving the complaint.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Governor's Veto Message
The Governor indicates in her veto message that every complaint that is properly before the AMB or ABOE pertains to the health and safety of Arizonans and S.B. 1072 risks confusion among physicians and the public.
Senate Action House Action
RAGE 1/22/25 DP 6-1-0 HHS 3/24/25 DP 7-4-0-1
3rd Read 2/3/25 20-10-0 3rd Read 4/15/25 32-21-7
Vetoed by the Governor 4/18/25
Prepared by Senate Research
April 24, 2025
JT/KP/ci