Assigned to APPROP                                                                                                                                                                                                                         FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, First Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2128

state licensing; fee waiver

Purpose

                      Requires a state agency to waive an initial licensing fee for an active duty military service member, the member's spouse or an honorably discharged veteran. Appropriates $250,000 each fiscal year from the state General Fund (state GF) to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) to reimburse agencies for waived licensing fees.

Background

                      To practice or perform a regulated profession or occupation or use certain occupational or professional titles in Arizona, a person must meet certain qualifications and apply to the designated board or agency for the license, certification or authorization. The initial licensing fees vary across the professions and occupations (A.R.S. Title 32).

                      An agency must waive any licensing fee charged for an individual that is applying for an initial license and has a family income of no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines, except for an applicant for an abortion clinic license or certification relating to the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act (A.R.S.   41-1080.01). An agency is any Arizona agency, department, board, commission or political subdivision that issues a permit, certificate, approval, registration, charter or similar authorization that is required by law to operate a business or for an individual to provide a service (A.R.S.   41-1080).

                      H.B. 2128 appropriates $250,000 ongoing from the state GF to ADOA. According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the estimated fiscal impact is unknown (JLBC Fiscal Note).

Provisions

1.   Requires an agency to waive any fee for a first-time license application, except for an applicant for an abortion clinic license or certification relating to the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, by:

a)   an active duty military service member and the member's spouse; and

b)   an honorably discharged veteran that has been discharged for less than two years before application.

2.   Appropriates $250,000 each fiscal year from the state GF to ADOA to reimburse agencies on a first-come, first-served basis for waived fees.

3.   Requires an agency to apply to ADOA for reimbursement of waived licensing fees.

4.   Makes conforming changes.

5.   Becomes effective on the general effective date.

House Action

MAPS                         2/15/21           DP         9-5-0-0

3^rd Read                   3/4/21                                     57-2-1

Prepared by Senate Research

March 12, 2021

LMM/kja