outdoor-based therapy programs; grants

SB1350 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
outdoor-based therapy programs; grants

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1350

Introduced by

Senators Kuby: Gabald�n, Hatathlie, Miranda;� Representatives
Garcia, Gutierrez, M�rquez, Sandoval, Stahl Hamilton

AN
ACT

amending title 36, chapter 1, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding article 2.2; relating to the department of health
services.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 36, chapter 1, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding article 2.2, to read:

ARTICLE 2.2. OUTDOOR
RX PROGRAM

START_STATUTE
36-165.

Outdoor Rx program; grants; fees; rules

A. Subject to available monies, The
outdoor Rx program is established in the department to provide grants for
outdoor environmental, ecological, agricultural or natural resource-based
or outdoor-based therapy programs serving the citizens of this state.

B. The department may award grants to
public agencies and contract with any public or private agency or person to
develop and implement natural resource-based or outdoor-based
therapy programs under the outdoor Rx program.

C. The department shall establish
limits on the use of outdoor Rx program monies, which shall be described in the
application package. The department may require applicants for a
grant under this section to make a matching contribution to be eligible for a
grant under this article. The department may limit the amount of
funding available for any element of natural resource-based or outdoor-based
therapy programs.

D. Each grant recipient shall:

1. Ensure that all natural resource-based
or outdoor-based therapy programs are conducted in accordance with any
technical standards established by the department by rule.

2. Submit any reports required by the
department as directed in the funding contract.

3. Agree to and certify compliance
with all applicable federal and state laws, rules and policies.

4. Maintain accurate accounting
records on the expenditure of program monies, provide the department with such
records consistent with the agreement or on request, as applicable, and allow
the department to audit the use of monies in accordance with generally accepted
auditing practices and standards.

E. The department shall reserve the
right to terminate its participation in any program that fails to perform
according to the requirements of this article and the rules adopted pursuant to
this article.

F. The Department may establish and
assess fees to grant recipients or outdoor Rx program participants for outdoor
Rx program services.

G. The department shall adopt any
rules necessary to implement and administer the outdoor Rx program.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
36-165.01.

Advisory committee; membership; reimbursement; duties

A. The Arizona state parks board
shall establish an advisory committee to assist and advise the department of
health services in developing and administering the outdoor Rx
program. The advisory committee shall consist of at least seven
members who are appointed as follows:

1. At least one member who is
appointed by the executive director of the arizona state parks board.

2. At least one member who is
appointed by the director of the department of health services.

3. At least one member who is
appointed by the director of the department of veterans' services.

4. At least one member who is
appointed by the director of the department of environmental quality.

5. At least one member of the
business community who is appointed by the executive director of the arizona
state parks board.

6. At least two members of outdoor
organizations who are appointed by the executive director of the arizona state
parks board.

7. Any other members the executive
director of the arizona state parks board deems necessary to ensure a
representative cross section of participants.

B. Members of the advisory committee
are not eligible for compensation but are eligible to receive reimbursement of
expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2.

C. The advisory committee shall
develop an application form that eligible applicants must complete and submit
to the department to be considered for a grant under the outdoor Rx program.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
36-165.02.

Grant eligibility; priorities; criteria; selection

A. The director shall set priorities
and develop criteria for the awarding of grants to outdoor environmental,
ecological, agricultural or natural resource-based or outdoor-based
therapy programs that, at a minimum:

1. Use veterans for at least fifty
percent of the program's implementation or administration.

2. Contribute to healthy lifestyles
through outdoor recreation.

3. Will commit matching and in-kind
resources.

4. Create partnerships with public
and private entities.

5. Maximize the number of
participants who can be served, particularly participants who are veterans or
who are recovering from substance abuse or physical or mental trauma.

6. Use a state park or other natural
venue.

7. Use research-based and
effective environmental, ecological, agricultural or natural resource-based
or outdoor-based therapy.

8. Provide citizens of this state
with opportunities to directly experience and understand nature and the natural
world.

9. Include ongoing program evaluation
and assessment and reporting of program effectiveness.

B. The
director shall select programs that conduct any of the following eligible
activities for the awarding of grants:

1. Outdoor
recreation.

2. Outdoor environmental studies.

3. Agricultural activities.

4. Natural resource-based activities.

5. Conservation.

6. Ecological activities.

7. Stewardship or restoration.

C. programs that conduct The
following activities are ineligible to receive a grant from the outdoor Rx
program:

1. Activities that may be perceived
to lobby or advocate for political purposes.

2. Activities that are not in
compliance with local, state or federal laws.

3. Organized youth sports, such as a
community league or school team.

D. The department shall evaluate each
grant application on whether the program's proposals:

1. Provide for public or private
partnerships.

2. Provide for innovative ways to
increase the availability and use of outdoor recreation facilities.

3. Show consideration for the
economics of installation or implementation to provide the greatest cost-to-benefit
ratio, such as when private parties contribute more than the minimum amount.

4. Commit matching and in-kind
resources.

5. Use a state park or other natural
venue.

6. Contribute to healthy lifestyles
through outdoor recreation and sound nutrition.

7. Contribute to the statewide
network of outdoor recreation facilities or programs.

8. Encourage community involvement.

9. Encourage sound environmental
practices.

10. Maximize the number of
participants who can be served.

11. Provide an opportunity to
experience the outdoors directly and understand nature and the natural world.

12. Include ongoing program
evaluation and assessment and reporting of program effectiveness.

13. Make use of research-based
and effective environmental, ecological, agricultural or natural resource-based
therapy.

14. Demonstrate innovative approaches
to outdoor-based therapy.

E. the depArtment shall review
Completed grant applications to determine eligibility and shall evaluate
applications in accordance with the purposes, eligibility requirements,
limitations and evaluation criteria prescribed in this article. The
department shall consult with and consider the recommendations of the advisory
committee established pursuant to section 36-165.01.� The director shall
make the final decision on awarding grant monies to a natural resource-based
or outdoor-based therapy program.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
36-165.03.

Outdoor Rx program fund

The outdoor Rx program fund is established
consisting of legislative appropriations and gifts, grants and
donations. The department shall administer the
fund. Monies in the fund are subject to legislative appropriation
and shall be used solely to administer the Outdoor Rx Program pursuant to this
article. Monies in the fund may be granted to any state agency to
develop and implement natural resource-based or outdoor-based
therapy programs consistent with this article. Monies in the Fund
may be spent only for natural resource-based or outdoor-based
therapy programs approved by the Director.
END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE
36-165.04.

Annual report

On or before February 1 of each year in which
grants are made pursuant to this article, the department shall issue a report
to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of
representatives, and shall provide a copy of the report to the secretary of
state. the report shall specify all of the following:

1. the total amount of grant monies
that were awarded pursuant to this article in the preceding calendar year.

2. The name of each grant recipient.

3. The amount awarded to each grant
recipient.

4. The purposes for which each grant
was awarded.

5. A summary financial plan for the
fund monies.
END_STATUTE