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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
hospitals; visitation
Purpose
Directs hospitals to facilitate in-person or virtual clergy visitation, depending on authorization from the hospital visitation policy and the patient or their representative.
Background
On October 1, 2020, the Department of Health Services (DHS) published the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Guidance for Visitation at Congregate Settings for Vulnerable Adults and Children to allow for visitations that comply with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The DHS Guidance recommends permitting direct care workers who are not facility employees, including clergy, to visit facilities, if they: 1) are not subject to a work exclusion; and 2) show no signs or symptoms of COVID-19 after being screened.
DHS Guidance directs facilities to enforce required pandemic mitigation measures for visitors and allows for the removal of visitors who refuse to comply with such mitigation measures (DHS).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Directs hospitals to facilitate the ability of clergy to visit patients in-person for religious purposes, if authorized by the hospital visitation policy and the patient or their representative.
2. Requires hospitals to facilitate virtual clergy visitation using communication technology if the hospital visitation policy does not allow for in-person visitation of any kind at all times or temporarily.
3. Directs hospitals to provide notice of visitation policies to patients or their representatives.
4. Requires clergy to comply with reasonable health and safety precautions imposed by hospitals, in connection with in-person visitation.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Directs hospitals to provide notice of the ability of clergy to visit patients.
2. Modifies the definition of clergy visitations and visits to include in-person visits, if preferred by the patient.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Removes the definition of clergy visitations and visits modified by the adopted committee amendment.
2. Allows clergy to visit patients in-person, if authorized by the hospital visitation policy and the patient or their representative.
3. Requires hospitals to facilitate a virtual clergy visit if the visitation policy does not allow for in-person visits.
Senate Action
• Failed to meet requirements of an affirmative two-third vote for enactment of the emergency clause.
House Action Senate Action
HHS 2/15/21 DPA 8-1-0-0 HHS 3/10/21 DPA 5-2-1
3rd Read 2/23/21 46-13-1 3rd Read 4/28/21 19-11-0
(W/O emergency)
Prepared by Senate Research
April 29, 2021
CRS/JP/kja