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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
respiratory care examiners board; continuation
Purpose
Continues the Arizona Board of Respiratory Care Examiners (Board) for six years.
Background
The Board is the regulatory body responsible for the licensing and oversight of respiratory care practitioners. Board duties include: 1) adopting and enforcing rules governing respiratory care practitioners; 2) investigating and determining the qualifications of license applicants; 3) keeping a record of all Board acts and proceedings, including the issuance, refusal, renewal, suspension or revocation of licenses; 4) maintaining a register with the name, place of residence and license date and number of all respiratory care practitioners; 5) compiling, once every two years, a list of licensed respiratory care practitioners who are authorized to practice in Arizona; 6) establishing minimum annual continuing education requirements for licensees; and 7) establishing a confidential program for the monitoring of licensees who are chemically dependent and enrolled in Board-approved rehabilitation programs (A.R.S. § 32-3504).
The Board consists of seven members appointed by the Governor, including: 1) three licensed respiratory care practitioners, at least one of whom is a technical director of a respiratory care department or corporation or a faculty member of an institution engaged in respiratory therapy education, and at least one of whom is involved in direct patient care; 2) a licensed physician who is knowledgeable in respiratory care; 3) two public members who are not engaged, directly or indirectly, in the provision of health care services; and 4) one hospital administrator. Members are limited to serving two three-year terms. The Governor may remove Board members for neglect of duty, malfeasance or misfeasance (A.R.S. § 32-3502).
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. § 41-3025.04).
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 44-14-2
Prepared by Senate Research
March 24, 2025
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