HB 2449
Initials LC Page 1 Judiciary
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-fifth Legislature
Second Regular Session
HB 2449: care facilities; clergy visitation
Sponsor: Representative Nguyen, LD 1
Committee on Judiciary
Overview
An emergency measure that outlines clergy visitation requirements to care facilities.
History
Current statute requires a hospital to provide notice of its visitation policy to patients. If a hospital's
visitation policy allows in-person visitation of any kind, and if authorized by the patient, the hospital
is required to allow clergy to visit the patient in-person for religious purposes. Clergy must comply
with reasonable health and safety precautions imposed by hospitals with in-person visitation. If a
hospital's visitation policy does not allow in-person visitation of any kind at all times or temporarily
for health and safety reasons, the hospital is required to facilitate a virtual clergy visit. (A.R.S. §
36-407.01).
Provisions
1. Requires a care facility to allow clergy to visit a patient if the facility allows in-person visitation
of any kind, including during a declared state of emergency. (Sec. 1)
2. Mandates a care facility must allow clergy to visit a patient, upon request, if the patient's death
is imminent. (Sec.1)
3. Allows a care facility to require clergy to comply with reasonable health and safety
precautions. (Sec. 1)
4. States a care facility is not liable to a person visiting a patient, or to the patient, for civil
damages resulting from death or injury from a communicable disease resulting from the
visitation provided the care facility complied with health and safety precautions. (Sec. 1)
5. Allows a person or religious organization to bring a civil action against the care facility if clergy
visitation is denied. (Sec. 1)
6. Defines care facility and patient. (Sec. 1)
7. Contains an emergency clause. (Sec. 2)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☒ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note