Legislative Updates

Arizona Revised Statute 32-3208 became effective on September 18, 2003. The statute affects the health professional regulatory boards and requires licensees and applicants for licensure to report criminal charges to the board, in writing, within ten days from when the charge(s) are filed. Specifically, a licensee or applicant must report any misdemeanor charges that "may affect patient safety" and all felony charges.

To report criminal charges to the Arizona State Board of Nursing, call Karen Grady at (602) 771-7821 or e-mail at complaints@azbn.gov.

House Bill 2545 – Effective August 9, 2010. This bill amended A.R.S. §32-3214 with regard to information posted on the website of a healthcare regulatory board. The Statute reads:

32-3214. Board actions; records; website; compliance deadline

1. If a health profession regulatory board dismisses a complaint, the record of that complaint is available to that regulatory board and the public at all times but may not appear on the board's website. For the purposes of this subsection, "dismisses a complaint" means that a board does not issue a disciplinary or non-disciplinary order or action against a licensee or certificate holder.
2. If a health profession regulatory board issues a non-disciplinary order or action against a licensee or certificate holder, the record of the non-disciplinary order or action is available to that board and the public at all times but may not appear on the board's website.
3. If a health profession regulatory board issues an advisory letter or letter of concern or imposes a practice limitation, documentation of that action is available to that board and the public at all times and may appear on the board's website, regardless of whether the board defines the action as a disciplinary or nondisciplinary action.
4. If a health profession regulatory board maintains a website, the board must display on its website a statement that a person may obtain additional public records related to any licensee or certificate holder, including dismissed complaints and non-disciplinary actions and orders, by contacting the board directly.
5. This section does not prohibit a health profession regulatory board from conducting its authorized duties in a public meeting.
6. A health profession regulatory board must comply with the requirements of this section on or before January 1, 2012.