Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners

The Board reviewed a consent agenda involving multiple cases recommended for dismissal or non-disciplinary consent agreements. Several disciplinary matters were addressed, resulting in various actions including probation, license surrender, and the opening of complaints against several licensees. The Board considered an Assistant Attorney General's report on pending legal actions, reviewed and denied several applications for licensure across various disciplines, and accepted financial reports. Additionally, the Board discussed administrative updates regarding building renovations, legislative reviews, the appointment of a new Secretary/Treasurer, and approved staff attendance at a regulatory summit.

The board meeting covers a broad range of regulatory and administrative actions. Key discussion topics include administrative hearings and formal interviews regarding licensed professionals, as well as the review and potential action on pending complaints and disciplinary matters, such as the acceptance of consent agreements. The agenda also encompasses the assistant attorney general's report on ongoing legal cases, review of licensure applications, and reports from the chair, treasurer, and executive director. Furthermore, the board will deliberate on various operational items, including compact updates, staffing, and requests for extensions of inactive status.

The meeting addressed the approval of the January 9, 2026, general and executive session minutes, while the October 10, 2025, executive session minutes were tabled due to a lack of quorum. The Consent Agenda involved several actions, including the unanimous approval for dismissal of numerous cases, dismissal with a letter of concern for several others (with one member recusing during a vote), and the approval of cases recommended for opening a complaint and dismissing with a letter of concern for an applicant. Additionally, several cases were approved for accepting proposed signed non-disciplinary consent agreements, and one case resulted in opening a complaint against a professional's supervisor. The Board also addressed cases recommended for opening a complaint for further investigation and the release from consent agreements for numerous licensees. In formal complaint matters, the Board found violations and offered consent agreements stipulating probation, continuing education, and clinical supervision for specific licensees. The Board also accepted consent agreements not to renew a license, accepted voluntary surrender of a license, and offered a non-disciplinary consent agreement for completion of missing continuing education hours. The Board denied a request to modify an interim order for psychological evaluation in one case. Regarding licensure applications, the Board voted to deny multiple applications across Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, Social Work, and Addiction Counseling categories, while also rescinding a previous denial for one LCSW applicant. Financial reports for December and January were accepted. The Board nominated Ms. Palacios for Board Secretary/Treasurer following Mr. Miller's resignation and approved attendance for four staff members at the Counseling Regulatory Boards Annual Summit.

The Board meeting agenda primarily focuses on the review, consideration, and action concerning numerous cases under the Consent Agenda, including cases recommended for dismissal, dismissal with a letter of concern, acceptance of proposed consent agreements (both disciplinary and non-disciplinary), and cases recommended for opening a complaint for further investigation. Other substantive items include administrative hearings, formal interviews, review of pending complaints and disciplinary matters involving various licensees, updates from the Assistant Attorney General on ongoing legal actions involving Teri Hourihan, review of denied applications for licensure with a potential rescission of a prior denial for one applicant, reports from the Chair, Treasurer (December and January financial reports), and the Executive Director regarding building renovations, 2026 Legislation, and the Secretary/Treasurer position. The Board will also address a request for an extension of inactive status.

The meeting agenda focused on several administrative and disciplinary matters. Key discussions included the review, consideration, and potential action on various cases recommended for dismissal, dismissal with a letter of concern, or acceptance of proposed non-disciplinary consent agreements. The Board was scheduled to address cases recommended for opening a complaint for further investigation, as well as cases for release from consent agreements. Other agenda items involved reviewing and taking action on executive session minutes from previous dates (October 10, 2025, and December 12, 2025), administrative hearings, formal interviews, updates on pending complaints, and an Assistant Attorney General's report on ongoing litigation. The Board also planned to review financial reports for November and December, receive an update on building damage and construction, and consider applications for licensure.