The proposed bill amends sections 15-2404 and 41-1279.03 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, focusing on Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts. The bill clarifies that, except for certain provisions, no government agency may control or supervise nonpublic schools or homeschools. It also states that qualified schools are not required to change their creed, practices, admissions policy, or curriculum to accept students with empowerment scholarship accounts.

Significantly, the bill introduces new requirements for qualified schools that accept payments from these scholarship accounts. Schools must comply with reporting, follow-up, and hearing participation requirements, as well as financial reporting as prescribed by the state board of education. The state board is tasked with developing minimum financial performance requirements for these schools and a financial transparency portal to display reported information. Additionally, an audit team will be established to monitor the percentage of scholarship funds spent in the classroom by qualified schools, which must post this information on their websites. Schools are required to respond to audit findings and participate in legislative hearings as needed.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-2404, 41-1279.03, 15-2402, 15-914