SB1688 is a bill that creates the State Hospital Governing Board to oversee the Arizona State Hospital, transferring authority from the Department of Health Services to this new Board starting January 1, 2026. The Board will have five members appointed by the Governor, all with experience in hospital or health care administration. The bill specifies the qualifications, terms, and appointment and removal processes for Board members. It also outlines the Board's responsibilities, such as setting hospital goals, ensuring patient rights compliance, and approving budgets. The role of the ASH Superintendent is eliminated, with their duties transferred to an ASH Director under the Board's supervision. The bill also establishes a State Hospital Donations Fund and includes provisions for public hearings, reporting, and the transfer of personnel and resources from DHS to the Board.

The bill amends various sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes, including the repeal of section 36-103.01 and the addition of new sections related to the governance of the state hospital. It changes terminology, replacing "superintendent" with "director," and introduces a governing board with detailed membership criteria and responsibilities. The bill also shifts certain reporting and financial duties from the superintendent/director to the governing board and allows for board member compensation. Additionally, it enables the ASH Director to enhance the use of hospital property and requires the governing board to hold public hearings and report on property use. The bill's effective date is set for after December 31, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 3-607, 8-201, 11-812, 23-618.01, 36-103.01, 36-132, 36-136, 36-137, 36-201, 36-202, 36-202.01, 36-203, 36-204, 36-205, 36-205.01, 36-205.02, 36-206, 36-208, 36-209, 36-210, 36-212, 36-213, 36-214, 36-216, 36-217, 36-218, 36-220, 36-407.03, 36-420.03, 36-501, 36-502.01, 36-503.03, 36-533, 36-541, 36-545.01, 36-545.08, 36-1672, 36-3701, 36-3702, 36-3704, 36-3705, 36-3707, 36-3708, 36-3709, 36-3710, 36-3711, 36-3712, 36-3714, 36-3717, 37-802, 37-803, 41-2752, 41-3803, 49-104, 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-1406, 13-1410, 13-3552, 13-3553, 13-3608, 13-3212, 13-3401, 8-327, 13-501, 13-3903, 13-4261, 13-3623, 13-3601, 13-1417, 8-455, 13-706, 32-3201, 15-803, 13-3620, 13-3551, 13-1401, 13-1411, 13-3507, 8-521.02, 3-111, 36-2801, 27-301, 3-112, 49-141, 9-462.01, 27-446, 27-441, 27-303, 36-693, 36-694, 39-122, 36-138, 36-551, 38-611, 3-525, 36-183.02, 33-2102, 36-2151, 36-556, 38-211, 41-1750, 92-544, 13-3992, 13-4512, 36-550, 36-2903.01, 13-4510, 36-402, 12-2801, 36-401, 32-1601, 36-441, 36-445, 36-2402, 36-2917, 36-3401, 35-173, 13-4517, 14-5312.01, 36-535, 36-540, 36-545.02, 35-146, 35-147, 36-3410, 35-190, 13-1402, 13-1403, 13-1104, 13-1105, 13-1203, 13-1204, 13-1303, 13-1304, 13-1508, 13-118, 13-4518, 13-1420, 13-3825, 31-228, 36-3706, 41-2753, 36-2925, 46-295, 41-1958, 8-460, 8-461, 15-231.04, 26-262, 13-3994, 41-3804
Senate Engrossed Version: 3-607, 8-201, 11-812, 23-618.01, 36-103.01, 36-132, 36-136, 36-137, 36-201, 36-202, 36-202.01, 36-203, 36-204, 36-205, 36-205.01, 36-205.02, 36-206, 36-208, 36-209, 36-210, 36-212, 36-213, 36-214, 36-216, 36-217, 36-218, 36-220, 36-407.03, 36-420.03, 36-501, 36-502.01, 36-503.03, 36-533, 36-541, 36-545.01, 36-545.08, 36-1672, 36-3701, 36-3702, 36-3704, 36-3705, 36-3707, 36-3708, 36-3709, 36-3710, 36-3711, 36-3712, 36-3714, 36-3717, 37-802, 37-803, 41-2752, 41-3803, 49-104, 13-1404, 13-1405, 13-1406, 13-1410, 13-3552, 13-3553, 13-3608, 13-3212, 13-3401, 8-327, 13-501, 13-3903, 13-4261, 13-3623, 13-3601, 13-1417, 8-455, 13-706, 32-3201, 15-803, 13-3620, 13-3551, 13-1401, 13-1411, 13-3507, 8-521.02, 3-111, 36-2801, 27-301, 3-112, 49-141, 9-462.01, 27-446, 27-441, 27-303, 36-693, 36-694, 39-122, 36-138, 36-551, 38-611, 3-525, 36-183.02, 33-2102, 36-2151, 36-556, 38-211, 41-1750, 92-544, 13-3992, 13-4512, 36-550, 36-2903.01, 13-4510, 36-402, 12-2801, 36-401, 32-1601, 36-441, 36-445, 36-2402, 36-2917, 36-3401, 35-173, 13-4517, 14-5312.01, 36-535, 36-540, 36-545.02, 35-146, 35-147, 36-3410, 35-190, 13-1402, 13-1403, 13-1104, 13-1105, 13-1203, 13-1204, 13-1303, 13-1304, 13-1508, 13-118, 13-4518, 13-1420, 13-3825, 31-228, 36-3706, 41-2753, 36-2925, 46-295, 41-1958, 8-460, 8-461, 15-231.04, 26-262, 13-3994, 41-3804