The proposed bill, HB2824, mandates the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to create a community service commendation for students who complete at least 200 hours of community service, in line with guidelines set by the State Board of Education (SBE). This commendation process will include a formal application procedure for students. Additionally, the bill specifies that community service activities must not include any actions intended to influence elections, as defined by existing law.

In contrast to current law, which encourages high school students to volunteer for 20 hours of community service prior to graduation, this bill significantly raises the requirement to 200 hours for commendation eligibility. It also introduces a formalized commendation process and clarifies the definition of community service to exclude politically motivated activities. The bill includes a retroactivity clause, applying its provisions from January 1, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-249.19, 15-341, 15-203
House Engrossed Version: 15-249.19, 15-341, 15-203, 16-192