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Senate Engrossed |
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State of Arizona Senate Fiftieth Legislature First Regular Session 2011
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SENATE BILL 1405 |
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AN ACT
amending title 36, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-415; relating to health care institutions.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 36, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-415, to read:
36-415. Hospitals; patients; verification and reporting requirements; disciplinary action; immunity
A. If a person who seeks or is receiving emergency or nonemergency medical care at, a hospital cannot provide valid health insurance information, the hospital admissions officer or representative must confirm at some point during the course of the person's admission or treatment that the person is a citizen of the United States, a legal resident of the united states or lawfully present in the United States. The admissions officer or representative may use any method prescribed in section 1-501 to verify citizenship or legal status and may also use the following means of verification:
1. A United States military I.D.
2. A driver license from any state of the United States.
3. Any valid documentation of identity and residence issued by a state in this country.
4. Proof of citizenship from a country that participates in the visa waiver program recognized by the United States government.
5. Proof of Canadian citizenship.
6. Proof of a valid non-immigrant visa that is recognized by the United States government.
B. If the admissions officer or representative who after making a reasonable attempt cannot verify the patient's citizenship or legal status as required pursuant to subsection a of this section, the admissions officer or representative, or a person not directly involved in administering the actual medical care of a patient must immediately contact the local federal immigration office or a local law enforcement agency to report the incident.
C. A hospital must submit an annual report to the department to document its compliance with the requirements of this section in a manner and form prescribed by the department. Each report must include documentation regarding the number of referrals to immigration and law enforcement pursuant to subsection b of this section.
D. A hospital that does not comply with the requirements of this section is subject to disciplinary action against its license by the department.
E. A hospital that complies with the requirements of this section is not subject to civil liability.