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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
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) if the individual administering aid obtains the injured person’s consent before rendering assistance.
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 if the individual administering aid obtains the injured person’s consent before rendering assistance.
2. Specifies that, if the injured person is under 15 years old, the person providing basic first aid must:
a) obtain consent from a parent or legal guardian; and
b) notify law enforcement of the injured person's condition.
3. Defines basic first aid as
a) cleaning minor cuts, scrapes or scratches;
b) treating a minor burn;
c) applying bandages and dressings;
d) providing fluids to relieve heat stress; and
e) for purposes of treating one of the aforementioned ailments, administering antiseptics or topical ointments, creams or analgesics and, if requested, providing nonprescription pain-relieving medication.
4. Makes technical changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Additional Committee of the Whole
1. Narrows the basic first aid licensing exemption to apply only to cases where the individual administering aid first obtains consent from the injured person.
2. Specifies that, if the injured person is under 15 years old, the person providing basic first aid must:
a) obtain consent from a parent or legal guardian; and
b) notify law enforcement of the injured person's condition.
3. Modifies the definition of basic first aid to:
a) include the administration of antiseptics;
b) limit the provision of nonprescription pain-relieving medication to only when requested by the injured person; and
c) eliminate the removal of debris from the eyes.
House Action Senate Action
RO 2/11/25 DP 5-0-0-0 HHS 3/26/25 DP 6-1-0
3rd Read 2/24/25 59-0-1 3rd Read 4/29/25 12-17-1
Prepared by Senate Research
May 7, 2025
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