This bill proposes updates to current statutes regarding Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts by introducing new requirements for qualified schools. Specifically, it mandates that all school personnel must possess a valid fingerprint clearance card or apply for one within twenty days of starting work, and they must meet certain educational or experience qualifications. The bill also establishes that the auditor general will conduct annual audits of qualified schools to ensure compliance, with consequences for noncompliance, including reimbursement of scholarship funds. Additionally, it modifies existing language related to fingerprinting requirements for teaching certificate applicants and tutoring service providers, clarifying that individuals with verified fingerprints on file are not required to submit new fingerprints for renewal unless the originals are unusable.

Moreover, the bill updates section identifiers from (jj) through (lll) to (kk) through (mmm) in various sections, introduces a requirement for current school personnel to comply with fingerprint clearance card requirements within six months of the bill's effective date, and expands the list of statutes requiring fingerprint background checks by adding section 15-2407. It also clarifies that an expired fingerprint clearance card can be used to meet certain requirements if the individual signs an affidavit. Overall, these changes aim to enhance safety and accountability while modernizing the statutory framework for educational personnel involved with Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-106, 15-2402, 15-2403, 15-2407, 23-1361, 41-619.51, 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, 15-161, 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, 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