This bill proposes to amend current statutes related to the School Safety Program by expanding its scope to include support for the costs associated with implementing a policy to limit the use of cell phones in school classrooms. Specifically, it adds new language to the existing statute, stating that the program will not only support the placement of school resource officers, juvenile probation officers, school counselors, and school social workers but also cover the costs of implementing cell phone usage policies. The bill outlines specific requirements for program proposals, including a detailed description of school safety needs, a plan for implementing the cell phone policy, and information on previous grant successes if applicable.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) evaluate and report on the effectiveness of all approved program proposals, including those related to cell phone policies, in the same manner as it currently does for proposals supporting SROs and JPOs. The bill also makes technical and conforming changes to ensure consistency within the statutes. Overall, if enacted, this legislation would enhance the existing framework of the School Safety Program by integrating cell phone policy implementation into its objectives.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-154, 15-155, 41-2534, 35-190
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-154, 15-155, 41-2534, 35-190