ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
Appropriates $150,000 in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to the Department of Education to establish a three-year model training program in Pima County for health care workers with limited education skills. Allows community college districts to use specified expenditures to form partnerships with local school to work programs. Establishes a study committee to evaluate the availability and market wages of caregivers for long-term care services.
H.B. 2618 addresses health care personnel shortages in the Pima County area. South Tucson, in Pima County, is a health professional shortage area, according to the Department of Health Services. The following chart depicts medical personnel in Arizona compared to the South Tucson area.
Medical Personnel |
Arizona Total |
South Tucson |
Nurse Practitioners |
1,722 |
48 |
|
Physician Assistants |
657 |
14 |
|
Registered Nurses |
39,702 |
612 |
|
Midwives |
203 |
7 |
Source: The Department of Health
Services
Also included in the bill is the ability for community college districts to partner with local School to work programs in elementary, high school and community colleges. School to work programs allow students to research different careers and skills required in different fields of work, allow students to participate in work-based experiences to develop career-specific skills, and enable schools to integrate classroom and on-the-job instruction into curriculum.
H.B. 2316 appropriates $150,000 in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to the Department of Education for a three-year model training program located in Pima County for health care workers with limited education skills. Additionally, the bill establishes a caregiver and work force study committee.
In her veto message, Governor Hull mentioned the following concerns with the bill: (1) the issue of workforce development was addressed in Education 2000 legislation which encourages colleges to form “partnerships with businesses and educational institutions,” (2) colleges should look at developing business partnerships to address labor shortage in health care industry, (3) only one vendor would meet the requirements and be awarded the contract, and (4) requires an out-year budget commitment, (5) a study of caregiver and long-term care services has already been addressed in a recently chaptered bill, H.B. 2585.
1. Appropriates $150,000 in each of FY 2001-2002 and FY 2002-2003 from the state general fund to the Department of Education to establish an adult education qualified health care labor pool program for a three-year model training program for health care workers with limited education skills. Exempts the appropriation from lapsing.
2. Requires the Department of Education’s adult education division to request proposals from nonprofit training institutions in Pima County for the purpose of awarding a three-year contract to a training institution to train entry-level workers for employees in that county. Contains requirements for eligible training institutions.
3. Requires the training institution awarded the grant to submit a report on the program to the Superintendent of Public Instruction at the end of each fiscal year.
4. Requires the Department of Education to request $150,000 for FY 2003-2004 for the third year funding of the program.
5. Allows community college districts to use workforce development and job training expenditures to form partnerships with local school to work programs for the purpose of providing administrative and grant funding for career development programs in elementary, high school and community colleges.
6. Establishes a study committee to evaluate the availability and market wages of caregivers for long-term care services.
7. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments
Adopted by the Appropriations Committee
1. Decreases the appropriations from $500,000 to $150,000.
Amendments
Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Establishes a study committee to evaluate the availability and market wages of caregivers for long-term care services.
Health 3/5/01 DP 6-0-3-1 Approp 4/18/01 DPA 9-0-3
Approp 3/13/01 DP 9-2-2-3 3rd Read 4/27/01 21-8-1-0
3rd Read 3/19/01 43-11-6-0
Final Read 5/2/91 40-16-4-0
Vetoed by Governor 5/8/01
Prepared by Senate Staff
May 21, 2001