REFERENCE TITLE: appropriation; grants; medical debt

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

HB 2679

Introduced by

Representatives De Los Santos: Aguilar, Austin, Gutierrez, Hernandez L, Hernandez M, Ortiz, Salman, Sandoval, Stahl Hamilton, Sun, Travers, Senator 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; grants; medical debt; study; intent; exemption

A. The sum of $30,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2023-2024 to the department of health services to award grants to pay medical debt.

B. The department shall use the monies appropriated by this section to award grants pursuant to title 41, chapter 24, Arizona Revised Statutes, to individuals in this state who have medical debt.

C. On or before September 1, 2025, the department shall conduct a study to determine the new purposes that individuals who were awarded grants pursuant to this section were able to put the monies that would otherwise have previously been spent to pay medical debt.  The department may contract with a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents to conduct the study.  The department shall submit a copy of the study to the secretary of state.

D. The legislature intends that:

1. The appropriation made in subsection A of this section be considered ongoing funding in future years.

2. This state pay all outstanding medical debt in this state.

E. 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.