Assigned to HHS &                                                                                                                    FOR COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2321

 

auricular acupuncturists; fingerprinting

 

Purpose

 

Requires, beginning January 1, 2019, an applicant for an auricular acupuncture certificate to submit a full set of fingerprints to the Arizona Acupuncture Board of Examiners (Board). Requires the applicant to disclose to the Board all active or past professional health care licenses or certificates.

 

Background

 

The Board was established in 1998 to license and regulate acupuncturists in order to standardize acupuncture practices. The Board's duties include setting standards for licensure examinations, evaluating applicants' qualifications, collecting fees, collecting applicant fingerprints for criminal background checks, adopting rules, and conducting investigations and hearings in disciplinary matters (A.R.S. § 32-3901).

            Auricular acupuncture is the stimulation of acupuncture points on the external surface of the ear for treatment of health conditions in other areas of the body. In Arizona, a licensed acupuncturist may practice auricular acupuncture with a specified certificate, after completing a Board-approved training program, for treating alcoholism, substance abuse or chemical dependency (A.R.S. 32-3922).

 

            There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund association with this legislation.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Requires, beginning January 1, 2019, an applicant for an auricular acupuncture certificate to submit a full set of fingerprints to the Board for a state and federal criminal records check.

 

2.      Allows the Department of Public Safety to exchange this fingerprint data with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

 

3.      Requires an applicant to disclose, for initial certification or recertification, all other active and past professional health care licenses and certificates that has been issued to the applicant.

 

4.      Removes the requirement that an individual seeking certification renewal file an application and pay a fee at least 30 days prior to the expiration date.

 

 

5.      Modifies the abbreviation of licensed acupuncturist from L.AC to L.Ac.

 

6.      Makes technical changes.

 

7.      Becomes effective on the general effective date.

House Action

 

HEALTH        2/08/18     DPA           9-0-0-0

3rd Read          2/21/18     DPA          57-0-3

 

Prepared by Senate Research

March 9, 2018

CRS/NW/lat