The proposed bill would update the current statutes governing the Arizona Board of Nursing (AZBN) by introducing new procedures for handling complaints and investigations. It would require complainants to identify themselves and be available for interviews while allowing for confidentiality requests. The AZBN would prioritize complaints based on potential harm to patients and provide respondents with written notice of investigations, including their right to legal representation and a specified timeframe for response. Additionally, the bill mandates reporting suspected criminal conduct to appropriate authorities and establishes a policy for expunging certain disciplinary actions against licensees.

Moreover, the bill expands the definition of "unprofessional conduct" to include specific behaviors, such as engaging in sexual conduct with current or recent patients, and introduces a structured process for expunging disciplinary actions. It allows the AZBN to expunge actions that are at least five years old under certain conditions and specifies circumstances for denial of expungement requests. The bill also requires the AZBN to report expungements to national databases and clarifies that licensees need not disclose expunged actions in future applications. Overall, these updates aim to enhance the regulatory framework of the AZBN, ensuring a more efficient and fair process for both complainants and licensees.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 32-1601, 32-1606, 32-1664.01, 32-1664.02, 32-1664.03, 32-1664.04, 32-1664.05, 32-1456, 32-1634.03, 32-1634.04, 32-1651, 32-1644, 32-1663, 36-401, 36-2939, 32-1668, 100-203, 100-360, 36-2151, 32-3248.03, 41-1750, 92-544, 13-604, 32-1669, 32-1272
House Engrossed Version: 32-1601, 32-1606, 32-1644, 32-1664, 32-1664.01, 32-1664.02, 32-1664.03, 32-1664.04, 32-1664.05, 32-1456, 32-1634.03, 32-1634.04, 32-1651, 32-1663, 36-401, 36-2939, 32-1668, 100-203, 100-360, 36-2151, 32-3248.03, 41-1750, 92-544, 13-604, 32-1669, 32-1272, 12-2291, 41-1091, 32-3206