REFERENCE TITLE: appropriation; community health grants

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

2021

HB 2676

Introduced by

Representatives Powers Hannley: Andrade, Butler, Epstein, Fernandez, Hernandez M, Rodriguez, Salman, Stahl Hamilton, Terán, Senators Engel, Mendez

AN ACT

appropriating monies to the department of health services.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Appropriation; department of health services; community health workers; certified nursing assistants; other health‑related professionals; reports; exemption

A.  The sum of $10,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2021-2022 to the department of health services to provide grants to community health centers, critical access hospitals and area health education centers established pursuant to section 15-1643, Arizona Revised Statutes, to recruit, hire and retain community health workers, certified nursing assistants and other health‑related professionals.  In providing the grants, the department of health services shall prioritize grants:

1.  To regions experiencing high medical workforce shortages.

2.  That will be used to hire community health workers, certified nursing assistants and other health‑related professionals with a specific focus on pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care.

B.  On or before October 1 of 2021, 2022 and 2023, the department of health services shall submit to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives a report detailing the grants provided by the department pursuant to this section and the expenditure of the grant monies by each grantee.

C.  The appropriation made in subsection A of this section is exempt from the provisions of section 35-190, Arizona Revised Statutes, relating to lapsing of appropriations.