ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session
	House: COM DP 10-0-0-0

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HB 2267: professional licensure fees; waiver; reduction

Sponsor:  Representative Grantham, LD 12

Caucus & COW

Overview

Requires a regulatory board or agency (regulatory entity) to reduce or waive fees when its licensing fund exceeds 50% of the appropriations from the same year.

History

To practice or perform a regulated occupation or profession or use certain occupational or professional titles in Arizona, a person must meet certain qualifications and apply to the designated board or agency for the license, certificate or authorization. The initial application and renewal processes, including initial and renewal licensing certification fees, vary across the professions and occupations (A.R.S., Title 32).

Provisions

1. Requires, by September 1 of each year, a regulatory entity to determine whether the entity expects its licensing fund ending balance to exceed 50% of the current FY appropriation from that fund by reviewing:

a) Incurred costs;

b) Monies in its funds; and

c) Collected fee revenues. (Sec. 2)

2. Stipulate a regulatory entity that determines its licensing fund balance would exceed 50% of its current FY licensing fund appropriation must provide a one-time licensure or certification renewal fees waiver or reduction to reduce the licensing fund balance to below 50% of its licensing fund appropriation:

a) In the upcoming FY; or

b) Within the normal schedule for license or certification renewal, if longer than one year. (Sec. 2)

3. Directs a regulatory entity, in determining the amount of the waiver or reduction, to attempt to ensure that all existing licensees or certificate holders receive one waiver or reduction.

a) Specifies fees for new licensees or certificate holders to be waived or reduced for the subsequent FY.

b) Requires a regulatory entity to attempt to ensure that fee reductions are the same for initial and renewal licenses and certificates. (Sec. 2)

4. Allows a regulatory entity to temporarily reduce or waive any initial or renewal licensure or certification fees. (Sec. 2)

5. Requires a regulatory entity to annually report fee plans to the Governor, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives by September 1.

a) Requires the annual report to include at a minimum:

i. The amount of revenues and expenditures expected in the current FY;

ii. Projected ending balances for the licensing fund; and

iii. Reasoning and justification for how the waiver or reduction plan will achieve required fee reductions. (Sec. 2)

6. Requires a regulatory entity, by July 1 of the FY in which the reduction or waiver becomes effective, to:

a) Notify existing licensees or certificate holders of the intended reduction or waiver; and

b) Prominently announce the fee reduction or waiver for new and existing licensees or certificate holders on its website homepage. (Sec. 2)

7. Allows a regulatory entity that believes it will require onetime monies greater than 50% of its annual appropriation for onetime capital, information technology or similar costs to include a report of this expected need in its statutorily required budget estimates submission to the Governor. (Sec. 2)

8. Delineates applicatory regulatory entities. (Sec. 2)

9. Makes a technical change. (Sec. 1)

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13.                   HB 2267

14. Initials PRB           Page 0 Caucus & COW

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