The bishops of the Arizona Catholic Conference (ACC) issued a statement Monday thanking Gov. Doug Ducey and other legislators for passing HB 2449. The bill ensures that patients in health care facilities can receive visits from a clergy member, even during a public health emergency.

"We remain extremely grateful for the dedicated health care providers who have done so much to assist people in need over the course of the pandemic," the bishops said in a Monday release on the ACC's website. "After all, patients typically need both great care for their bodies as well as for their souls."

The statement was from the Most Rev. Thomas J. Olmsted, Bishop of Phoenix; the Most Rev. Eduardo A. Nevares, Auxiliary Bishop of Phoenix; the Most Rev. James S. Wall, Bishop of Gallup; and the Most Rev. Edward J. Weisenburger, Bishop of Tucson.

HB 2449 mandates that residents or patients of health care facilities are entitled to in-person visits from clergy members, even in the event of a public health emergency, a report on LegisScan.org said. If the individual is not personally able to request a visit from a clergy member due to Alzheimer's disease or other circumstances, the person's legal representative can request the visit on their behalf. 

"Being able to have clergy present at the end of life is important to people of many different faiths," the bishops' statement said. "Their presence is not only important to the patient, but it also brings tremendous peace of mind to the surviving relatives."

The ACC is a public policy organization representing the Diocese of Phoenix, the Diocese of Gallup, the Diocese of Tucson and the Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix on issues of public policy and legislation, the ACC website said. The organization's board of directors is made up of bishops from each of the dioceses.