ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session
	Senate: HHS DP 7-0-1-0 | 3^rd Read 30-0-0-0 House: RA DP 7-0-0-0

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SB 1074: occupational therapists; fingerprint clearance cards

Sponsor:  Senator Brophy McGee, LD 28

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires an applicant for an occupational therapy (OT) or occupational therapy assistant (OTA) license to possess a valid fingerprint clearance card (Card) beginning on January 1, 2021.

History

The Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (Board) was established by the Arizona Legislature to regulate OT professions. The Board evaluates the qualifications of applicants and prescribes examination requirements for licensure. The Board issues and renews licenses, investigates complaints, takes appropriate disciplinary action, and responds to inquiries from consumers as to the license status of individual occupational therapy professionals (A.R.S. § 32-3404).

An applicant for an OT or OTA license must be of good moral character, successfully complete the academic and fieldwork requirements, pass the administered examination, and pay all required fees. Each applicant for original licensure, license renewal, license reinstatement or a limited license must submit a full set of fingerprints to the Board (A.R.S. §§ 32-3423; 32-3430).

Currently applicants for OT licensure must submit fingerprints to the Board to obtain a state and federal criminal records check (A.R.S. § 32-3430).

Provisions

1. Removes language requiring the OT applicant to submit a full set of fingerprints to the Board for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal record check.  (Sec. 1)

2. Requires an applicant for an OT or OTA license, license renewal, license reinstatement or a limited license to possess a valid Card beginning on January 1, 2021.  (Sec. 1)

3. Removes the Board's ability to issue a license or limited license before it receives the results of a criminal background check.  (Sec. 1)

4. Contains a delayed effective date of January 1, 2021.  (Sec. 7) 

5. Contains technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-4)

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                  SB 1074

Initials JR/LB        Page 0 Caucus & COW

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