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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
license exemption; basic first aid
Purpose
Excludes the provision of basic first aid in good faith to an injured person, without compensation, from licensure requirements under the Arizona Medical Board (AMB).
Background
The AMB is the regulatory body responsible for the licensing and oversight of doctors of medicine in Arizona. Statute prescribes outlined practices and circumstances that are explicitly excluded from those actions requiring a medical license, including: 1) the provision of medical assistance in an emergency; 2) the administration of family remedies, including the sale of vitamins, health foods, supplements or any other natural remedies; 3) the practice of religion or religious rites; 4) healing arts provided by an Indian tribe or a licensee; 5) activities or functions that do not require the judgment of a doctor of medicine and are usually delegated by a doctor of medicine to another individual under their supervision; 6) official duties of a medical officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Public Health Service, if the duties are restricted to federal lands; 7) any act, task or function performed by a physician assistant in the proper performance of their duties; and 8) the emergency harvesting of donor organs by a doctor of medicine licensed to practice in another state or country for use in another state or country (A.R.S. § 32-1421).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Excludes the provision of basic first aid in good faith to an injured person, without compensation, from licensure requirements under the AMB.
2. Defines basic first aid as
a) cleaning minor cuts, scrapes or scratches;
b) treating a minor burn;
c) applying bandages and dressings;
d) removing debris from the eyes;
e) providing fluids to relieve heat stress; and
f) administering nonprescription pain-relieving medication, antiseptic medication or topical ointments, creams or analgesics to treat one of the aforementioned ailments.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
RO 2/11/25 DP 5-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/24/25 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 24, 2025
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