assisted living; notice; study committee, the official text

Senate Engrossed

assisted living;
notice; study committee

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1561

AN
ACT

Amending title 36, chapter 4, article 1, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-420.06; relating to health care
institutions.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Title 36, chapter 4, article 1,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-420.06, to read:

START_STATUTE36-420.06. Assisted living facilities; eviction; discharge; notice;
statement of resident's rights

in any notice provided to a resident of an
assisted living facility on discharge or eviction, the assisted living facility
shall provide a statement of the resident's rights.

Sec. 2. Vulnerable adult
system study committee; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal

A. The vulnerable adult
system study committee is established consisting of the following members:

1. Two members of the house
of representatives who are appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives and who are members of different political parties.  The
speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to
serve as cochairperson of the committee.

2. Two members of the
senate who are appointed by the president of the senate and who are members of
different political parties. The president of the senate shall
designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

3. The director of the
department of health services or the director's designee.

4. The director of the
department of economic security or the director's designee.

5. The director of the
Arizona health care cost containment system or the director's designee.

6. One member who
represents the governor's office and who is appointed by the governor.

7. One member who
represents the attorney general's office and who is appointed by the attorney
general.

8. One member who currently
serves as the department of economic security's long-term care ombudsman
or the ombudsman's designee.

9. One member who currently
serves as a public fiduciary and who is appointed by the governor.

10. Two members who are
employed by a local law enforcement agency or who are employed by a statewide
organization that represents law enforcement and who are appointed by the
governor.

11. The executive director
of the Navajo area agency on aging or the executive director's designee.

12. The executive director
of the inter tribal council of Arizona or the executive director's designee.

13. Two members who
represent assisted living facilities and who are appointed by the speaker of
the house of representatives.

14. Two members who
represent nursing care institutions and who are appointed by the governor.

15. One member who
represents a statewide organization that advocates for elderly vulnerable
adults and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

16. One member who
represents a statewide organization that advocates on behalf of persons
affected by Alzheimer's disease and who is appointed by the president of the
senate.

17. One member who
represents a statewide association that advocates on behalf of persons who
provide services to persons with developmental disabilities and who is
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

18. One health care
professional who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives
and who both:

(a) Is
licensed pursuant to title 32, Arizona Revised Statutes.

(b) Provides
health care services to elderly vulnerable adults.

19. One member who is on
the governor's advisory council on aging and who is appointed by the governor.

20. One member who
represents a statewide association representing firefighters in this state and
who is appointed by the president of the senate.

B. The vulnerable adult
system study committee shall:

1. Develop and implement a
coordinated vulnerable adult delivery system that ensures the health and safety
of vulnerable adults.

2. Recommend best practices
relating to responding to and investigating complaints.

3. Research best practices
related to adult protective services at the state, municipality and community
levels.

4. Research and make
recommendations on how the vulnerable adult system can ensure that vulnerable
adults receive services they require after the vulnerable adult system
completes its investigatory duties, including assigning a specific agency with
the responsibility to provide or coordinate case management.

5. Research and identify
common statewide outcomes.

6. Identify best practices
for data collection and data sharing by various entities involved in providing
vulnerable adult services.

7. Review and recommend
changes to the statutes and rules that govern vulnerable adult services.

C. The cochairpersons may
designate work groups to research, study and make recommendations to the study
committee.  At least two work groups shall be established to separately address
the needs of persons with developmental disabilities and persons who are
elderly or who have a physical disability, including the training requirements
for persons who are caring for these populations.

D. Once a strategic
direction is established, the department of economic security, in conjunction
with the work groups, shall develop an action plan for implementation.

E. Public members of the
study committee are eligible to receive reimbursement of expenses pursuant to
title 38, chapter 4, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes.

F. On or before October 1,
2026 and each October 1 thereafter, the study committee shall submit a report
of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the president of the
senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy
of this report to the secretary of state.

G. This section is repealed
from and after December 31, 2028.