AZ HB2426

Establishes a voluntary certification process for community health workers administered by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Creates a 9-member Community Health Workers Advisory Board, with a majority of members being community health workers, to make recommendations on education standards, core competencies, continuing education requirements, and unprofessional conduct standards.

Defines community health workers as frontline public health workers who provide cultural mediation, health education, care coordination, advocacy, and outreach to build community capacity and reduce health disparities.

Sets forth department authority to adopt rules regarding minimum education and training requirements, application procedures, certification fees, background screening, and grounds for denial or revocation of certificates.

Establishes a Community Health Workers Certification Fund with 90% of collected certification fees deposited to cover administrative costs and board operations, and 10% deposited to the state general fund.