HB 2098
Initials AG Page 1 Transmitted
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: HHS DP 9-0-0-0 | 3
rd
Read 59-0-1-0
Senate: HHS DP 8-0-0-0 | 3
rd
Read 27-0-3-0
HB 2098: psychiatric assessment; nurse practitioners; reporting
Sponsor: Representative Cobb, LD 5
Transmitted to the Governor
Overview
Expands the list of professionals who may perform psychiatric assessments for minors to include
psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP).
History
Statute defines a PMHNP as a registered nurse who has completed an adult or family psychiatric
and mental nurse practitioner program and is certified by the Arizona State Board of Nursing
(A.R.S. § 36-501).
Currently, psychologists, psychiatrists or physicians can conduct outpatient or inpatient
assessments for minors and provide certain recommendations for outpatient and inpatient
treatment services. Statute provides procedures for an entity to secure inpatient psychiatric acute
care services or residential treatment services for children under their care (A.R.S. § 8-272).
An entity means the Department of Child Safety, Department of Juvenile Corrections or a child
welfare agency that has been granted legal care, custody and control of a child by order of the
juvenile court and responsible for securing inpatient psychiatric acute care services or residential
treatment services for a child. Entities include a probation department or juvenile detention center
that either recommends or is ordered by the court to provide these services for a child (A.R.S. §
8-271).
Provisions
1. Enables a PMHNP to conduct inpatient and outpatient assessments for minors. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires a PMHNP to provide certain recommendations for a child after conducting an
outpatient assessment or inpatient assessment. (Sec. 1)
3. Directs a PMHNP to provide the inpatient assessment to the entity within 72 hours after the
child is admitted to an inpatient assessment facility. (Sec. 1)
4. Adds a PMHNP to the list of health professionals an entity can include in their motion for
approval of admission for inpatient assessment with the juvenile court. (Sec.1)
5. Specifies that if a PMHNP performs the child's outpatient or inpatient assessment and
recommends they receive inpatient acute care services, the entity must file the motion for
inpatient psychiatric acute care services with the juvenile court. (Sec. 1)
6. Specifies that if a PMHNP recommends that a child receive inpatient psychiatric services after
conducting the inpatient assessment, the entity must file a motion for inpatient psychiatric
acute care services no later than 24-hours after receiving the inpatient assessment. (Sec. 1)
7. Defines PMHNP. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note HB 2098
Initials AG Page 2 Transmitted
8. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)