This bill proposes significant updates to the Arizona Revised Statutes concerning Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts. Key changes include new requirements for applicants and qualified schools, such as the necessity for all school personnel to possess valid fingerprint clearance cards and meet specific educational qualifications. Additionally, qualified schools will be mandated to report on graduation rates and excessive absences, and financial performance requirements will be established for schools receiving scholarship funds. The bill also introduces restrictions on the use of account funds for luxury goods and services, requiring prior approval for transactions exceeding $500. Furthermore, the frequency of transfers to the Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts will change from quarterly to monthly, and the notification process for account renewals will be streamlined. Moreover, the bill enhances the auditing processes by requiring the auditor general to conduct performance audits to evaluate program objectives and submit findings to stakeholders, including the governor and legislative committees. It also establishes public hearings for testimony on program performance and a framework for follow-up reviews to address identified deficiencies. The definition of "qualified school" will be expanded, and existing provisions related to fingerprint clearance checks will be modified to allow information sharing among schools. Additionally, current school personnel must comply with new fingerprint clearance card requirements within six months of the bill's enactment. Overall, these updates aim to enhance accountability and transparency in the management of Arizona's empowerment scholarship accounts program and related educational institutions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-106, 15-2402, 15-2403, 15-2407, 15-2408, 23-1361, 41-619.51, 41-1279.03, 41-1750, 41-1758, 41-1758.01, 41-1758.08, 15-183, 15-512, 15-766, 15-2401, 15-505, 15-534.04, 28-9551, 15-802, 15-185, 15-943, 35-190, 2020-2021, 35-113, 15-2401.01, 15-2404, 93-380, 15-241, 15-914, 13-2310, 15-161, 41-2954, 41-2952, 41-619.57, 8-804, 41-619.55, 3-314, 8-105, 8-322, 8-463, 8-509, 8-802, 15-503, 15-534, 15-763.01, 15-782.02, 15-1330, 15-1881, 17-215, 28-3228, 28-3413, 32-122.02, 32-122.05, 32-122.06, 32-823, 32-1232, 32-1276.01, 32-1284, 32-1297.01, 32-1904, 32-1941, 32-1982, 32-2022, 32-2063, 32-2108.01, 32-2123, 32-2371, 32-3430, 32-3620, 32-3668, 32-3669, 32-3922, 32-3924, 32-4222, 32-4128, 36-113, 36-207, 36-411, 36-425.03, 36-446.04, 36-594.01, 36-594.02, 36-766.01, 36-882, 36-883.02, 36-897.01, 36-897.03, 36-3008, 41-619.53, 41-1964, 41-1967.01, 41-1968, 41-1969, 41-2814, 41-4025, 46-141, 46-321, 42-6106, 42-6107, 28-6392, 28-6533, 13-3601, 32-2422, 32-2441, 32-2612, 32-2622, 41-1758.03, 41-1758.07, 41-2411, 14-5303, 14-5407, 14-5206, 14-5304, 14-5401, 14-5651, 13-3827, 15-550, 8-453, 99-169, 13-3825, 8-341, 41-619.52, 13-3623, 35-146, 35-147, 41-1758.04, 92-544