Senate Engrossed

State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018

SENATE BILL 1254

 

AN ACT

 

appropriating monies; relating to special education programs.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Special education programs; cost study; delayed repeal

A.  The auditor general shall conduct and complete a cost study of school district and charter school special education programs in this state.  The department of education shall cooperate with and provide necessary information to the auditor general.  The cost study shall include all of the following:

1.  The cost of providing special education programs to students pursuant to title 15, chapter 7, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes.  Any costs supported by the federal government shall be considered for the purposes of this cost study.

2.  The amount of money that is generated by the school finance formula for a student who receives special education services and the amount of money that follows the student to the student's school of attendance.

3.  Any other areas deemed necessary by the auditor general.

B.  The cost study pursuant to subsection A of this section shall be conducted using a sample of no more than sixty school districts and charter schools that are representative of the state population, including being representative of the state population of students who receive special education services.  The auditor general shall select school districts and charter schools to participate in the cost study.  Any school districts and charter schools selected to participate in the cost study shall cooperate, provide information and follow and adhere to the accounting guidelines and requirements as set forth by the auditor general to accurately account for special education program expenditures for each disability classification as defined in section 15-761, Arizona Revised Statutes, in a format prescribed by the auditor general in conjunction with the department of education as provided in section 15-904, Arizona Revised Statutes.  The auditor general shall collaborate with the school districts and charter schools while establishing these new accounting guidelines and requirements.

C.  This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2021.

Sec. 2.  Appropriations

A.  The sum of $50,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in each of fiscal years 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to the department of education to be dispersed to the school districts and charter schools selected by the auditor general to defray the costs associated with the new accounting requirements established pursuant to this act.

B.  The sum of $180,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in each of fiscal years 2018-2019, 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 to the auditor general to fund the cost study required by this act.