MADISON LEYVAS

ASSISTANT RESEARCH ANALYST

ZACK DEAN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

DATE:            February 17, 2020

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to S.B. 1094, relating to podiatry board; fingerprinting

Purpose

Beginning September 1, 2020, requires applicants for a podiatry license to submit a full set of fingerprints to the Arizona State Board of Podiatry Examiners (Board). Increases the penalty for a violation against any requirement or prohibition prescribed for podiatrists.

Background

The Board is responsible for licensing and regulating doctors of podiatric medicine, evaluating the professional competency of podiatrists seeking to be licensed in Arizona and promoting continued competency by investigating complaints against podiatrists, holding hearings, monitoring the activities of its licensees and enforcing the standards of practice for podiatrists (A.R.S. §§ 32-801 and 32-822). Current statute requires that licensure applicants must: 1) be of good moral character; 2) be a graduate of an accredited podiatry school whose standards are recognized by the American Podiatric Medical Association; 3) have the physical and mental capability to engage safely in the practice of podiatry; 4) have a professional record that indicates the applicant has not committed any act or engaged in any conduct that would constitute grounds for disciplinary action against the licensee; 5) have a professional record that indicates the applicant has not had a license to practice podiatry refused, revoked, suspended or restricted by any other state, federal jurisdiction or country; and 6) have passed a national board written examination (A.R.S. § 32-823).

A person is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor who: 1) practices, advertises or holds oneself out as practicing or entitled to practice podiatry; 2) uses, on a sign or advertisement, specified titles, terms or letters indicating or implying that the person practices podiatry or foot correction without having a valid unrevoked license to practice podiatry; and 3) violates any other requirement or prohibition prescribed for podiatrists (A.R.S. § 32-855).

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

Provisions

1. Requires, beginning September 1, 2020, applicants for a podiatry license to submit a full set of fingerprints to the Board for the purpose of obtaining a state and federal criminal records check.

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

3. Increases, from a class 2 misdemeanor to a class 5 felony, the penalty for a violation against any requirement or prohibition prescribed for podiatrists.

4. Makes technical changes.

5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.