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 introduces new requirements for program proposals that seek funding for this purpose, including a detailed description of the school safety needs, a plan for implementing the cell phone policy, and information on previous grant successes if applicable. The existing language regarding the program's focus on school resource officers, juvenile probation officers, counselors, and social workers remains unchanged, but the bill adds provisions to ensure that proposals for cell phone policies are evaluated similarly.

Additionally, the bill makes technical and conforming changes to the existing statutes, such as updating the language to reflect the new focus on cell phone policies and clarifying the evaluation and reporting requirements for the Arizona Department of Education. The overall structure of the School Safety Program remains intact, but the inclusion of cell phone policy support represents a significant update to the program's objectives. The bill is designed to enhance school safety by addressing the challenges posed by cell phone use in educational settings.

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