Assigned to RAGE FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1072
medical boards; complaints; time limit
Purpose
Requires the Arizona Medical Board (AMB) and the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners
in Medicine and Surgery (ABOE) to take final action on a complaint unrelated to protecting the public
health and safety within one year of receiving the complaint.
Background
The purpose of the AMB is to protect the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified,
impaired or unprofessional practitioners of allopathic medicine through licensure, regulation and
rehabilitation of the profession in Arizona. The AMB's powers and duties include: 1) ordering and
evaluating physical, psychological, psychiatric and competency testing of licensed physicians and
candidates for licensure; 2) initiating and determining whether a doctor of medicine has engaged
in unprofessional conduct, provided incompetent medical care or is mentally or physically unable
to engage in the practice of medicine; 3) developing and recommending standards governing the
profession; 4) disciplining and rehabilitating physicians; and 5) adopting rules regarding the
regulation and qualifications of doctors of medicine (A.R.S. § 32-1403).
The purpose of the ABOE is to protect the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified,
impaired and unprofessional practitioners of osteopathic medicine. The ABOE's powers and duties
include: 1) issuing licenses, conducting hearings, placing physicians on probation, revoking or
suspending licenses, entering into stipulated orders and issuing letters of concern or decrees of
censure; 2) maintaining a record of the ABOE's acts and proceedings, including the issuance,
denial, renewal, suspension or revocation of licenses; 3) discipling and rehabilitating osteopathic
physicians; and 4) adopting rules necessary or proper to administer the regulations of osteopathic
medicine (A.R.S § 32-1803).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the AMB and the ABOE, or the respective executive director of the board if
delegated, to take final action on a complaint unrelated to protecting the public health and
safety within one year of receiving the complaint.
2. Deems the complaint administratively closed if final action is not taken within one year of
receiving the complaint.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 16, 2025
JT/KP/ci