Senate Engrossed House Bill

hospitals; visitation

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HOUSE BILL 2575

AN ACT

Amending title 36, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-407.01; 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 36-407.01, to read:

START_STATUTE36-407.01. Hospitals; visitation; religious purposes

A hospital shall provide notice of its visitation policy to a patient or the patient's representative. If A hospital's visitation policy allows in-person visitation of any kind and if authorized by the patient or the patient's representative, the hospital must facilitate the ability of clergy to visit the patient in person for religious purposes. clergy must comply with reasonable health and safety precautions imposed by hospitals in connection with in-person visitation. If a hospital's visitation policy does not allow in-person visitation of any kind at all times or temporarily for health and safety reasons, the hospital must facilitate a virtual clergy visit using communication technology. END_STATUTE

(EMERGENCY NOT ENACTED)

Sec. 2. Emergency

This act is an emergency measure that is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative immediately as provided by law.