Official Summary Text
SB1461 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet
Assigned to
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PASSED BY COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR
s.b. 1461
allied
health care workforce; appropriation
Purpose
Appropriates
$5,000,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) to the Arizona Health Care
Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to establish an allied health care workforce
development program to develop the allied health care workforce in Arizona and
outlines distribution and program requirements.
Background
Federal law
defines an
allied health professional
as a health professional, other
than a registered nurse or physician assistant, who has received education or
certification in a science relating to health care who shares responsibility
for the delivery of health care or related services, including: 1) services
relating to the identification, evaluation and prevention of disease and
disorders; 2) dietary and nutrition services; 3) health promotion services; 4)
rehabilitation services; and 5) health systems management systems (
42
U.S.C. � 295p
).
In practice, allied
health encompasses a broad group of health-related professions whose functions
assist, facilitate or complement the work of physicians and other specialists
in the health care system, including professionals in the fields of clinical
laboratory technology, dental hygiene, dietetic services, emergency medical
services, medical record services, occupational therapy, physical therapy,
radiologic technology, respiratory therapy, speech-language pathology and
audiology (
National
Library of Medicine
).
S.B. 1461
appropriates $5,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to AHCCCS.
Provisions
1.
Appropriates $5,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to AHCCCS to
establish an allied health care workforce development program to develop the
allied health care workforce in Arizona.
2.
Requires
AHCCCS to distribute the appropriated monies to a nonprofit organization that:
a)
is solely dedicated to training allied health care workers through
direct programs and education partners;
b)
has established partnerships with employers, education institutions and
public agencies;
c)
has graduated at least 7,000 students before the general effective date;
d)
has maintained an active presence in at least eight states; and
e)
is
able to demonstrate the capacity to graduate at least 1,000 students through
the prescribed allied health care workforce development program.
3.
Defines
allied health care worker
as an individual who
contributes to the delivery of health or related services in roles that are
distinct from physicians and registered nurses and that typically require
specialized training beyond a high school diploma but less than a bachelor's
degree.
4.
Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by
Committee
�
Decreases the appropriation from $15,000,000 to $5,000,000.
Senate Action
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Prepared by Senate Research
February 25, 2026
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