The proposed bill aims to enhance school safety and update the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program by introducing several key changes to current statutes. It establishes the School Safety Center within the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and creates the School Safety Center Council, which will oversee safety training and technical assistance. The bill mandates that individuals in specific roles, such as school resource officers and counselors, obtain a fingerprint clearance card before having unsupervised contact with students. Additionally, it expands the definition of individuals required to obtain a fingerprint clearance card to include contracted tutors and modifies existing provisions related to the school safety program by replacing references to the "Department of Education" with the "school safety center."

In terms of the ESA program, the bill introduces new provisions that limit the carryforward amounts for qualified students with and without disabilities, prohibits the transfer of excess ESA balances to the state general fund beyond these limits, and requires ADE to present an annual expenditure plan for the ESA Program Fund. It also narrows the renewal period for ESAs from three years to one year and specifies the notification methods for account closure. The bill clarifies the definition of "qualified school," updates language regarding nonpublic school oversight, and appropriates funds for the administration of the ESA program. Overall, these updates aim to improve school safety measures and ensure accountability in the management of educational funds.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-154, 15-154.02, 15-155, 15-249.20, 41-2534, 35-190, 15-341, 15-183
House Engrossed Version: 15-154, 15-154.02, 15-155, 15-249.20, 41-2534, 35-190, 15-341, 15-183
Senate Engrossed Version: 15-106, 15-154, 15-154.02, 15-155, 15-249.20, 15-2402, 15-2403, 15-2404, 41-619.51, 41-1750, 41-1758, 41-1758.01, 41-1758.02, 41-1758.08, 15-183, 15-512, 15-2401, 41-2534, 35-190, 15-505, 15-341, 15-249.13, 15-766, 15-534.04, 28-9551, 15-802, 15-185, 15-943, 2020-2021, 35-113, 15-2401.01, 2027-2028, 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, 32-3271, 32-3430, 32-3620, 32-3668, 32-3669, 32-3922, 32-3924, 32-4128, 32-4222, 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, 36-1940, 36-1940.01, 36-2069, 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