allied health care workforce; appropriation

Plain English Breakdown

The official source confirms the fiscal year as 2026-2027, correcting any ambiguity about which years are covered.

SB1461: Funding for Allied Health Worker Training

This bill gives $5 million from the state General Fund to AHCCCS in fiscal year 2026-2027 to create a program that trains allied health workers in Arizona.

What This Bill Does

• Appropriates $5,000,000 from the state General Fund for fiscal year 2026-2027.
• Requires AHCCCS to give this money to a nonprofit organization that meets five specific requirements regarding training focus, partnerships, past graduation numbers, geographic presence, and future capacity.
• Establishes an allied health care workforce development program in Arizona.
• Defines 'allied health care worker' as someone who helps deliver health services but is not a physician or registered nurse, typically requiring specialized training beyond high school but less than a bachelor's degree.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)
• A nonprofit organization that meets specific criteria to receive the funds
• Individuals seeking to become allied health care workers in Arizona

Terms To Know

Allied health care worker

A person who helps deliver health services but is not a doctor or registered nurse. They usually have training beyond high school but less than a four-year degree.

Appropriation

The act of setting aside money from the government budget for a specific purpose.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not name which nonprofit organization will receive the funds, only that it must meet five specific requirements.
• The text states the effective date is the 'general effective date' but does not list a specific calendar day.

Official Summary Text

SB1461 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
ATT������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ AS
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

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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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Current Bill Text

SB1461 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

allied health care
workforce; appropriation

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1461

AN
ACT

Appropriating monies to the arizona
health care cost containment system.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section
1.
1.
Appropriation; Arizona health care cost containment system;
allied health care workforce development program; definition

A. The sum of
$5,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in
fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Arizona health care cost containment system to
establish an allied health care workforce development program to develop the
allied health care workforce in this state.

B. The Arizona health care
cost containment system shall distribute the monies to a nonprofit organization
that meets all of the following:

1. Is solely dedicated to
training allied health care workers through direct programs and education
partners.

2. Has established
partnerships with employers, education institutions and public agencies.

3. Has graduated at least
seven thousand students before the effective date of this section.

4. Has maintained an active
presence in at least eight states.

5. Is able to demonstrate
the capacity to graduate a minimum of one thousand students through the allied
health care workforce development program established pursuant to subsection A
of this section.

C. For the purposes of this
section, "allied health care worker" means 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.