radiation therapy; rural counties, the official text

House Engrossed

radiation therapy;
rural counties

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2049

AN
ACT

Amending title 30, chapter 4, article 3, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 30-682; relating to ionizing radiation.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 30, chapter 4, article 3,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 30-682, to read:

START_STATUTE30-682. Rural counties; critical access hospitals; use of particle
accelerator for the treatment of human disease; general supervision;
definitions

A. In a county with a population of
less than four hundred thousand persons or for a registrant that meets the
requirements for designation as a critical access hospital as prescribed in 42
Code of Federal Regulations part 485, subpart F, the department shall allow the
use of a particle accelerator to treat human diseases under general supervision
if the registrant ensures all of the following:

1. The registrant or an authorized
user:

(a) Has
established a written protocol for the application of radiation to a patient
for each procedure that may be conducted by a radiation therapy technologist
under the general supervision of an authorized user, including follow-up
instructions for the patient.

(b) Reviews
and, as necessary, revises the written protocol at least annually.

(c) Documents
the review required by subdivision (b) of this paragraph
with a signature and date of signature.

2. Any procedure conducted pursuant
to this subsection is not a special procedure.

3. A radiation therapy technologist
follows the applicable written protocol when delivering radiation to a patient.

4. At least every six months an
authorized user:

(a) Observes
each radiation therapy technologist while the radiation therapy technologist is
performing a procedure to ensure the radiation therapy technologist's adherence
to the applicable written protocol.

(b) Documents
the authorized user's observation and assessment of the radiation therapy
technologist.

5. An authorized user is on-site and
available for consultation about patient care at least once every five working
days, as verified in documentation maintained by the registrant.

6. The health and safety of a patient
are maintained.

B. A registrant that uses general
supervision to comply with the requirements of this section shall develop,
maintain and implement policies and procedures to monitor both:

1. The performance of each procedure
by a radiation therapy technologist under general supervision.

2. The quality of patient care.

C. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Authorized user" means
an authorized user as defined in rule by the department.

2. "General supervision"
means that a radiation therapy technologist is furnished with a written
protocol for performing procedures under an authorized user's overall direction
and control and that the authorized user is responsible for ensuring that the
protocol for the procedure is followed but is not required to be present in the
health care institution during the performance of the procedure.

3. "Radiation therapy
technologist" has the same meaning prescribed in section 32-2801.

4. "Registrant" means a
registrant as defined in rule by the department.

5. "Special procedure"
means a type of therapy through which radiation is delivered to a patient
through five or fewer fractions or with a dose per fraction greater than six
Gy.

Sec. 2. Emergency

This act is an emergency measure that
is necessary to preserve the public peace, health or safety and is operative
immediately as provided by law.