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Committee lowers experience and coursework hurdles for county sanitarians, adopts amendment to preserve science core
Summary
House Bill 21‑45 was returned with a due‑pass recommendation after testimony that reducing experience and expanding acceptable coursework will ease county recruitment of registered sanitarians; the committee adopted an amendment changing the required coursework split to preserve a natural‑science foundation.
The Arizona House Science and Technology Committee on Feb. 11 voted to report House Bill 21‑45 with a due‑pass recommendation and adopted a Pingarelli amendment that adjusts the coursework split for applicants to the registered sanitarian exam.
What the bill does: HB 21‑45 reduces the number of years of prior experience required to sit for the registered sanitarian exam from five years to three years and expands the types of college credits that may count toward the course‑work requirement. The bill preserves the existing state exam, which candidates must pass with at least a 70 percent score, according to testimony.
Support and rationale: Caitlin King of the County Supervisors Association of Arizona testified in support, saying counties are struggling to fill sanitarian positions that inspect food safety, pools, septic systems and other environmental health functions delegated by the state. King told the committee that shortages are particularly acute in rural counties and that the Arizona County Directors of Environmental Health Services Association recommended reducing experience requirements and expanding qualifying coursework.
Amendment: Chair Pingarelli offered, and the committee adopted by voice vote, an amendment that requires a minimum of 22 semester hours in the natural sciences (instead of the originally proposed 30 hours exclusively in specified subjects) and allows additional flexibility for the remaining credits subject to Sanitarian Council approval. Caitlin King told members the change preserves a science foundation while allowing broader course eligibility such as humanities or public‑policy courses that support communication and decision‑making skills.
Committee action and vote: After amendment adoption the committee voted to return HB 21‑45 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation. The committee recorded 9 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent on the final roll call.
Why it matters: County sanitarians carry out delegated environmental‑health duties that affect restaurant inspections, septic and wastewater issues, pools and other public health safeguards. Supporters said the bill lowers barriers to entry while maintaining the exam requirement and a science core to ensure competency.
Ending: The committee advanced the amended bill for further consideration; supporters asked for continued engagement with stakeholders and said the measure aims to reduce rural staffing shortages without lowering professional standards.
