REFERENCE TITLE: behavioral health; temporary licensure; graduates

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

 

 

 

HB 2509

 

Introduced by

Representatives Gress: Biasiucci, Blattman, Bliss, Carbone, Contreras P, Dunn, Livingston, Martinez, Peņa, Shah, Willoughby, Wilmeth;  Senator Shamp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Act

 

amending section 32-3279, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the board of behavioral health examiners.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


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

Section 1. Section 32-3279, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE32-3279. Probationary and temporary licenses

A. If an applicant does not meet the basic requirements for licensure prescribed in section 32-3275, the board may issue a probationary license that is subject to any of the following:

1. A requirement that the licensee's practice be supervised.

2. A restriction on the licensee's practice.

3. A requirement that the licensee begin or continue medical or psychiatric treatment.

4. A requirement that the licensee participate in a specified rehabilitation program.

5. A requirement that the licensee abstain from alcohol and other drugs.

B. If the board offers a probationary license, the board shall notify the applicant in writing of the:

1. Applicant's specific deficiencies.

2. Probationary period.

3. Applicant's right to reject the terms of probation.

4. Applicant's right to a hearing on the board's denial of the application.

C. The board by rule may prescribe a procedure to issue temporary licenses. At a minimum, these rules must include the following provisions:

1. A person issued a temporary license may practice behavioral health only under the direct supervision of a licensee.

2. A temporary license expires on the date specified by the board and not more than one year after the date of issuance.

3. A temporary license may contain restrictions as to time, place and supervision that the board deems appropriate.

4. The board may summarily revoke a temporary license without a hearing.

5. The board's denial of a licensure application terminates a temporary license.

D. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the board shall issue a temporary license to a person who has completed the person's course of study in social work, counseling, marriage and family therapy or substance abuse counseling from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, who has graduated and who is in the process of applying for an associate level license pursuant to this chapter if the person's activities are performed under qualified supervision by a person who provided direct supervision during the course of study or internship. The temporary licensure is valid for ninety days after the person's date of graduation. The person may apply any direct client contact work experience obtained during the temporary licensure time frame pursuant to this subsection toward the person's direct client contact work experience licensure requirements. END_STATUTE