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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
osteopathic examiners board; continuation
Purpose
Continues the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners in Medicine and Surgery (Board) for six years.
Background
The Board was
established to protect the public by setting educational and training standards
for licensure and to review complaints made against osteopathic physicians,
interns and residents. The Board's duties include: 1) protecting the public
from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified, impaired and unprofessional
practitioners of osteopathic medicine; 2) issuing licenses, conducting hearings
and taking disciplinary actions against osteopathic physicians; 3) maintaining
a public directory of all licensed and previously licensed osteopathic
physicians and surgeons;
4) adopting and enforcing rules regarding the regulation, qualifications and
training of osteopathic physicians and medical assistants; 5) determining
whether a prospective or current Arizona licensed physician has the ability to
treat and manage opiate-dependent patients; and 6) issuing registrations to
administer general anesthesia and sedation in dental offices and dental clinics
to physicians who have completed residency training in anesthesiology (A.R.S.
§ 32-1803).
The Board consists of seven members appointed by the Governor. Two members of the Board must be public members who have demonstrated an interest in the health problems of Arizona and who are not connected with, or have any interest in, any school of medicine or any person practicing any form of treatment. The other five members of the Board are physician members who must: 1) have engaged in the practice of medicine as an osteopathic physician in Arizona for at least five years; 2) hold active licenses in good standing; and 3) at the time of appointment, be practicing medicine with direct patient contact. When appointing each professional member, the Governor must consider a list of qualified persons submitted by the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association and recommendations by any other person. No Board member may serve more than two consecutive, five-year terms. The Governor may remove Board members for malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence or unprofessional or dishonorable conduct in office (A.R.S. § 32-1801).
The Senate and House of Representatives Health and Human Services Joint Committee of Reference (COR) held a public meeting on January 17, 2025, to review and evaluate the Auditor General's performance audit and sunset review, consider the Board's responses to the statutorily outlined sunset factors and receive public testimony. The COR recommended that the Board be continued for six years until July 1, 2031 (COR Minutes). The Board is set to terminate on July 1, 2025, unless continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. § 41-3025.11).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2025, the Board until July 1, 2031.
2. Repeals the Board on January 1, 2032.
3. Contains a purpose statement.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactive provision as noted.
House Action
HHS 2/13/25 DP 12-0-0-0
3rd Read 2/26/25 45-13-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 24, 2025
MM/AO/slp