ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: HHS DP 7-0-0-2

HB 2585: occupational therapists; fingerprint clearance cards.

Sponsor:  Representative Longdon, LD 24

House Engrossed

Overview

Requires an applicant for licensure as an occupational therapist (OT) or OT assistant to possess a valid fingerprint clearance card beginning January 1, 2022.

History

The Arizona Board of Occupational Therapy Examiners (Board) regulates OT professions. The Board issues and renews licenses, evaluates qualifications of applicants and prescribes examination requirements for licensure (A.R.S. § 32-3404).

Currently, applicants for original licensure, license renewal, license reinstatement or a limited license must submit a full set of fingerprints to the Board, if not already done so, to obtain a state and federal criminal records check (A.R.S. § 32-3430).

The Fingerprinting Division (Division) within the Department of Public Safety conducts fingerprint background checks for people and applicants seeking licenses from state agencies, employment with licensees, contract providers and state agencies or employment or educational opportunities with agencies that require fingerprint background checks. The Division issues fingerprint clearance cards, which upon issuance become the personal property of the cardholder (A.R.S. § 41-1758.01).

Provisions

1.   Requires an applicant for an OT or OT assistant license, license renewal, license reinstatement or a limited license to possess a valid fingerprint clearance card beginning January 1, 2022. (Sec. 1)

2.   ☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal NoteRemoves language requiring an 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)

3.   Repeals language requiring the Board to suspend a license or limited license of a person who submits an unreadable set of fingerprints and does not submit a new readable set of fingerprints within 20 days after being notified by the Board. (Sec. 1)

4.   Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1-4)

5.   Contains a delayed effective date of January 1, 2022. (Sec. 5)

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9.                     HB 2585

10.  Initials EB/IR         Page 0 House Engrossed

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