Assigned to ED                                                                                           AS PASSED BY THE SENATE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

REVISED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1513

 

teacher shortage; study committee

 

Purpose

 

Establishes a Joint Legislative Committee to address teacher shortage issues.

 

Background

 

In Arizona, there are currently 43,579 reported teachers and 2,047 individuals holding emergency teaching certificates, according to the Arizona Department of Education.  Approximately half of Arizona’s current teachers are eligible to retire within the next 10 years.  Since the state acquires approximately 15,000 new students annually, it is estimated that Arizona would need to hire an additional 30,000 teachers within the next ten years, according to the Arizona Education Association. 

 

S.B. 1513 establishes a Joint Legislative Committee on the Teacher Shortage to address issues related to the supply of teachers in Arizona, focusing on issues such as certification of teachers from out of state, retirement portability, the need for teachers in specific fields, and teacher pay.

 

There is no fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this bill.  

 

Provisions

 

1.      Establishes a 10-member Joint Legislative Committee on the Teacher Shortage (Committee).

 

2.      Requires the Committee to study data relating to: (a) the predicted supply of teachers in Arizona,  (b) teacher pay issues, (c) certification of teachers from out of state and retirement portability and (d) portability of teacher wages within the state (e) shortage of teachers in specific fields.

 

3.      Requires the Committee to report to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate by December 1, 2001 relating to the following:        

 

(a)    An estimate of the total teacher shortage and the shortage of teachers in specific fields for the next five years.

(b)   Recommended statutory changes to reduce the teacher shortage.

(c)    Administrative changes recommended by schools, the Department of Education, or the State Board of Education to assist in reducing the teacher shortage.

 

4.      Repeals the Joint Legislative Committee on Teacher Shortage after December 1, 2001.

 

5.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

Amendments Adopted in Committee of the Whole

 

1.      Adds that the committee study the issues related to teacher portability of wages when a teacher transfers from one school district to another school district within the state.

 

2.      Makes a technical change.

 

Senate Action

 

ED                   3/8/01              DP       9-2-1-0

3rd Read           3/20/01            DPA    17-12-1-0

 

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

March 21, 2001