ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
small schools;
textbooks; technical correction
(NOW: school
district governing board omnibus)
Establishes noticing requirements relating to a proposed school closing. Allows surplus monies from the civic center school fund and the community school program fund to be used for maintenance and operations or unrestricted capital outlay purposes. Establishes a School District Unification and Consolidation Commission.
S.B. 1180 addresses a number of issues relating to (1) noticing requirements of a school governing board when a school closing is proposed; (2) expending surplus monies for maintenance and operations or unrestricted capital outlay purposes associated with the civic center school fund and the community school program fund, when program needs are met; and (3) the establishment of a commission to study school district unification and consolidation.
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this legislation.
1. Removes the provision that requires a school district governing board to establish policies prohibiting discrimination of any organization from leasing school property.
2. Makes a clarifying change to the provision that allows a school district governing board to expend surplus monies from the civic center school fund and the community school program fund for maintenance and operations or unrestricted capital outlay purposes, if sufficient monies are available after meeting the needs of these programs.
3. Establishes a 19-member School District Unification and Consolidation Commission (Commission).
4. Requires the Commission to study and examine the following:
a) The costs and benefits of unification or consolidation of school districts, or both, and any potential savings associated with a reduction in administrative personnel.
b) Various models for unification or consolidation of school districts.
c) The impact of school district unification and consolidation on stipulated items.
5. Requires the Commission to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature summarizing the Commission's findings and recommendations by September 15, 2003.
6. Repeals the Commission on January 1, 2004.
7. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
1. Requires a school district governing board to provide written notice to parents or guardians of students affected by a proposed school closing at least 30 days prior to the public meeting where the closing of a school is discussed.
2. Establishes meeting noticing requirements relating to a proposed closure of a school.
3. Requires a school district governing board to hear reasons for or against the closing of the school at the designated meeting.
4. Exempts a school district governing board from stipulated noticing requirements if the school district governing board determines that the school must be closed because it poses a danger to the health or safety of the school's students or employees.
5. Requires a school district governing board to establish policies prohibiting the documentation of any organization from leasing school property.
6. Allows a school district governing board to expend surplus monies in the civic center school fund and the community school program fund for maintenance and operations or unrestricted capital outlay purposes, if sufficient fund monies are available in the fund after meeting the needs of these programs.
Amendments
Adopted by the Free Conference Committee
1. Removes a provision that requires a school district governing board to establish policies prohibiting discrimination of any organization from leasing school property.
2. Makes a clarifying change to the provision that allows a school district governing board to expend surplus monies from the civic center school fund and the community school program fund for maintenance and operations or unrestricted capital outlay purposes, if sufficient monies are available after meeting the needs of these programs.
3. Establishes a 19-member School District Unification and Consolidation Commission (Commission).
4. Requires the Commission to study and examine the following:
d) The costs and benefits of unification of consolidation of school districts, or both, and any potential savings associated with a reduction in administrative personnel.
e) Various models for unification or consolidation of school districts.
f) The impact of school district unification and consolidation on stipulated items.
5. Requires the Commission to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature summarizing the Commission's findings and recommendations by September 15, 2003.
6. Repeals the Commission on January 1, 2004.
7. Provides for a general effective date.
Senate Action House Action
ED 3/14/02 DP 4-1-3-0 ED 4/15/02 DPA/SE 6-3-0-1-0
3rd Read 3/25/02 23-6-1-0 3rd Read 4/25/02 33-21-6-0
Final Read 5/16/02 16-13-1-0 Final Read 5/20/02 37-21-2-0
Signed by the Governor 5/29/02
Chapter 316
Prepared by Senate Staff
June 5, 2002