The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes related to school district governing boards by introducing mandatory biennial training requirements for board members. Specifically, it would require the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), in consultation with the Office of the Auditor General (OAG), to develop a comprehensive training program covering essential topics such as public school finance, compliance with financial records, budget development, and audit procedures. Additionally, the bill mandates that each governing board member complete training on governance, fiduciary duties, policy implementation, community engagement, and ethical responsibilities, among other relevant topics.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that failure to complete the required training would render a governing board member ineligible for nomination, election, or appointment to the board. It also allows the ADE to charge school districts for the training costs and requires board members to report their training completion to the county school superintendent. The bill includes technical and conforming changes to existing statutes to ensure clarity and compliance with the new training requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-326
House Engrossed Version: 15-349, 15-421, 15-271, 15-904