A. An outdoor behavioral health care program shall:

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 36-434

  • Action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Arizona Laws 1-215
  • Department: means the department of health services. See Arizona Laws 36-401
  • Director: means the director of the department. See Arizona Laws 36-401
  • Facilities: means buildings that are used by a health care institution for providing any of the types of services as defined in this chapter. See Arizona Laws 36-401
  • including: means not limited to and is not a term of exclusion. See Arizona Laws 1-215
  • Outdoor behavioral health care program: means an agency that provides behavioral health services in an outdoor environment as an alternative to behavioral health services that are provided in a health care institution with facilities. See Arizona Laws 36-401

1. Comply with the requirements for a level 2 behavioral health residential agency, as established by the department by rule except as provided in subsection C of this section.

2. Obtain and maintain national accreditation as an outdoor behavioral health care program.

3. Ensure that the outdoor behavioral health program’s personnel comply with the requirements of Section 36-425.03.

B. In addition to the standards adopted pursuant to section 36-405, subsection A, the department may adopt rules to establish facility, equipment and sanitation standards for outdoor behavioral health care programs.

C. An outdoor behavioral health care program that does not use facilities is exempt from any facility standards applicable to a behavioral health service agency.

D. If the director determines that there is reasonable cause to believe an outdoor behavioral health care program is not adhering to the licensing requirements of this chapter, the director and any duly designated employee or agent of the director, including county health representatives and county or municipal fire inspectors, may enter on and into any area used by the outdoor behavioral health care program at any reasonable time to determine, consistent with standard medical practices or behavioral health practices, compliance with this chapter, rules adopted pursuant to this chapter and local fire ordinances or rules.

E. An application for licensure under this chapter constitutes permission for and complete acquiescence in any entry or inspection of any area used by the outdoor behavioral health care program during the pendency of the application and, if licensed, during the term of the license.

F. If an inspection reveals that the outdoor behavioral health care program is not adhering to the licensing requirements prescribed pursuant to this chapter, the director may take action authorized by this chapter.

G. An outdoor behavioral health care program whose license has been suspended or revoked pursuant to this section is subject to inspection on application for relicensure or reinstatement of license.