Assigned to EDUC FOR COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2630
school districts; unification

Purpose

Establishes requirements relating to the formation of a new unified school district in which a former union high school district and at least one of the former common school districts are no longer part of the new unified school district.

Background

Current statute does not specify the requirements for the formation of a new unified school district in which a former union high school district and at least one of the former common school districts are no longer part of the new unified school district.

There is concern that the former union high school district may not:

Be required to accept pupils from the common feeder school districts that do not unify.

Retain their authority in the transfer of pupils.

Have equal representation on the district governing board.

Continue to have override authority, bonding authority and bonding limitations as before unification.

H.B. 2630 establishes the requirements relating to the formation of a new unified school district in which a former union high school district and at least one of the former common school districts are no longer part of the new unified school district.

There is no appropriation associated with the bill. A fiscal impact may include an increase in state funding for unification assistance to newly formed unified school districts.

Provisions

1. Requires that after a unified school district is formed in which a former union high school district and at least one of the former common school districts are no longer part of the new unified school district, a union high school district continue to accept pupils from the remaining common school district in the same manner as before the unification.

FACT SHEET H.B. 2630 Page

2. Requires that after a unified school district is formed in which a former union high school district and at least one of the former common school districts are no longer part of the new unified school district, the governing board of the remaining common school district continue operations.

3. Requires that the governing board of the former union high school district consist of two members elected from each common school district and one member elected from the former union high school district.

4. Specifies that the override authority, bonding authority and bonding limitations for the common school district continue in the same manner as before the unification.

5. Allows a qualified newly formed unified school district to apply for unification assistance.

6. Makes technical changes.

7. Contains a general effective date.

House Action

ED 2/17/99 DP 9-0-3-0

APPROPS 3/9/99 DPA 9-1-1-2

3RD READ 3/15/99 52-1-7-0

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 23, 1999

Click here to return to the A.L.I.S. Home Page.