Bill Text: AZ HB2230 | 2012 | Fiftieth Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Nurses; continuing education
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-18 - Referred to House HHS Committee [HB2230 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2012-HB2230-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: nurses; continuing education |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fiftieth Legislature Second Regular Session 2012
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HB 2230 |
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Introduced by Representative Heinz
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AN ACT
Amending title 32, chapter 15, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 32-1641; relating to the state board of nursing.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 32, chapter 15, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 32-1641, to read:
32-1641. Continuing education; requirements; exemptions; report; delayed repeal; definition
A. Beginning April 1, 2014, a license renewal application filed by any of the following must include an affidavit stating that the licensee has completed nine hundred sixty hours of work experience and either is certified in a nursing specialty in which the licensee is practicing or has completed at least sixty hours of continuing education for each renewal cycle that specifically pertains to the licensee's area of nursing:
1. Registered nurse.
2. Practical nurse.
3. Clinical nurse specialist.
4. Registered nurse practitioner.
B. The board may grant an extension to complete the requirements prescribed in subsection A of this section if the licensee includes a written request for an extension with the renewal application and the application is received on or before April 1 of the year in which the license expires.
C. Continuing education courses may be provided by any of the following:
1. A nursing program recognized by the board or any other state board of nursing.
2. An entity that employs or contracts with a regulated party if the entity has been approved or certified to provide continuing education by an organization recognized by the board or any other state board of nursing. If the entity is not approved or certified, the licensee may claim credit for only six hours per year of continuing education credit from that entity. This limitation does not begin until April 1, 2015 for an entity that is licensed by the department of health services.
3. Any continuing education provider recognized by any state board of nursing.
4. A regionally or nationally accredited postsecondary school.
5. A licensed health care institution that is approved by the American nurses credentialing center or its designee.
6. A national organization that is recognized by the board to provide accredited continuing education.
D. The board shall recognize continuing education units as follows:
1. One semester credit is the equivalent of fifteen continuing education hours.
2. One quarter credit is the equivalent of ten continuing education hours.
3. One hour of employer sponsored or provider sponsored continuing education is the equivalent of one continuing education hour.
E. A licensee must maintain retain records that document compliance with the continuing education requirements of this section for five years.
F. A licensee is exempt from the continuing education requirements of this section during the first two years immediately following initial licensure by the board.
G. The continuing education requirements of this section do not apply to a licensee who, during the renewal cycle:
1. Has requested and been placed on inactive status.
2. Demonstrates to the board's satisfaction that the licensee has been employed outside of the United States for at least one year.
3. Is employed by a federal agency outside of this state.
4. Is serving in the United States armed forces outside of this state.
5. Has suffered from a total physical disability for at least one year.
6. Has had total responsibility for at least one year for an immediate family member who suffers from a total disability.
7. Is exempt for good cause shown as determined by the board.
H. The board shall submit a report to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives on or before December 1, 2020 regarding the effect and benefits of the continuing education requirements prescribed in this section. The board shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.
I. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2021.
J. For the purposes of this section, "continuing education" means a learning experience related to the scientific knowledge or technical skills, or both, required for a specific area of the practice of nursing and includes direct and indirect patient or client care, health care policy, nursing administration, management, education or research, or other functional areas of nursing relating to indirect patient or client care.
Sec. 2. Continuing nursing education requirements; proration
The Arizona state board of nursing shall prorate the continuing education requirements established by this act to reflect the number of months remaining before licensure renewal following the effective date of this act.
