This bill seeks to establish the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact by adding a new article to title 32, chapter 25 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The compact aims to facilitate the portability of physician assistant (PA) licenses across participating states while ensuring patient safety. It introduces definitions and requirements for participation, including the formation of a PA Licensure Compact Commission to oversee implementation, conditions for exercising compact privileges, and processes for adverse actions against licenses. The bill also includes provisions for military families, allowing active duty personnel and their spouses to obtain compact privileges based on an unrestricted license from a participating state.
Additionally, the bill updates the current statutes governing the Executive Committee and the Commission's operations by expanding the Executive Committee to nine members, establishing annual meeting requirements, and outlining responsibilities for compliance and financial record maintenance. It introduces a framework for data management, rulemaking, oversight, and dispute resolution, clarifying the commission's legal standing and procedures for addressing defaults by participating states. The bill also allows for amendments to the compact, ensures severability of its provisions, and clarifies the binding effect of the compact over conflicting state laws.