The proposed bill would amend current statutes regarding the training requirements for school district governing board members in Arizona. Under the new law, each governing board member who has not previously served in Arizona must complete a training program on school finance within 30 days of taking office, which includes at least eight hours of instruction on various relevant topics. The county school superintendent is responsible for providing this training, and if a district spans multiple counties, the superintendent of the member's residing county will provide the training. Additionally, the bill establishes reporting requirements for both the governing board members and the county school superintendents to ensure compliance with the training mandate.

Current law allows for the appointment of governing board members and outlines eligibility criteria, including the ineligibility of individuals registered as sex offenders. The bill modifies this by specifying that a governing board member who fails to complete the required training is ineligible for election or appointment if they are not currently serving and belong to a district identified as high-risk by the auditor general. The bill also introduces new provisions for the approval of training programs by the auditor general and the joint legislative audit committee, ensuring that the training meets established standards. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the governance of school districts by ensuring that all members are adequately trained in financial matters.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-302, 15-349, 15-421, 15-481
House Engrossed Version: 15-302, 15-349, 15-421, 15-481