AZ HB2386

Establishes a mandatory education and training curriculum, jointly developed by the Department of Health Services and Department of Economic Security, to teach healthcare workers, group home staff, and intermediate care facility employees how to identify signs of neglect and abuse of vulnerable adults, including sexual abuse.

Requires all persons employed in caring for vulnerable adults to complete the training before beginning employment and update it annually, with curriculum covering reporting responsibilities, contact procedures, and including a component available for families of vulnerable adults.

Mandates that healthcare institutions, group homes, and intermediate care facilities post conspicuous information about reporting procedures and adopt nonretaliation policies protecting employees who report suspected abuse or neglect in good faith.

Creates a rebuttable presumption that terminations or adverse employment actions occurring more than 180 days after an abuse report are not retaliatory, placing burden on employers to prove otherwise.

Effective immediately upon passage as an emergency measure, with mandatory compliance beginning January 1, 2023.