What This Statute Says
Where a procurement organization is licensed without accreditation, the statute lays out the operational requirements.
A. Except as provided in section 36-851.02, each procurement organization that is required to be licensed pursuant to section 36-851.01 shall do all of the following:
1. Designate a medical director who is a physician licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17 and who provides medical guidance to determine donor eligibility.
2. Employ a director who holds at least a bachelor's degree in a related science from an accredited university and who is responsible for all licensed activities of the organization.
3. Comply with all of the following as adopted in rule by the department of health services: (a) Proper use and maintenance of donor consent forms ... (f) Final disposition procedures.
4. Implement and maintain all of the following: (a) Standard operating procedures for all licensed functions ... (b) A safety awareness and blood-borne pathogen training program that complies with state and federal law. (c) A cleaning program that mitigates potential cross-contamination between donors.
5. Provide a designated area for tissue recovery that: (a) Is open to inspection by the department of health services with or without notice. (b) Does not operate in a funeral establishment.
When This Statute Comes Into Play
The provision is the operational floor for procurement organizations that choose to be licensed without holding national accreditation. The requirements parallel what an accrediting agency would otherwise verify.
What This Means for Arizona Families
This statute reads like a hospital regulatory rule because it is one. For families, the value is knowing that any procurement organization touching a loved one's donation in Arizona operates under documented medical leadership, staff training, recordkeeping, and physical-facility standards. The recovery area cannot operate inside a funeral establishment, which is a significant separation rule preventing conflicts of interest.
If you want to verify that a specific procurement organization meets these standards, DHS publishes the list of licensed organizations and inspection results. Our FAQ on making organ-donation wishes legally binding covers what donors and families can document. A clear healthcare directive ensures that the regulatory infrastructure around procurement is given a clear donor instruction to honor.