Assigned to ED &                                                                                                                      FOR COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Third Legislature, Second Regular Session

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2460

 

charter schools; vacant buildings; equipment

 

Purpose

 

Prohibits school districts selling or leasing a vacant or unused building from accepting an offer that is less than an offer from a charter or private school.

 

Background

 

The School Facilities Board (SFB) annually publishes a list of vacant and unused buildings and portions of buildings owned by the state or by a school district that may be suitable for the operation of a charter school. The list must be made available to applicants for charter schools and to existing charter schools. Statute prohibits a school district that is selling or leasing a vacant or unused building or portion of a building from prohibiting a charter school from negotiating to buy or lease the building. School districts are required to attempt to obtain the highest possible value under current market conditions for the sale or lease of the vacant or unused building. Additionally, statute currently allows school districts to sell used equipment to charter schools before the school district attempts to sell or dispose of the equipment by other means (A.R.S. § 15-189).

 

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Prohibits a school district selling or leasing a vacant or unused building from accepting an offer from a potential buyer or lessee that is less than an offer from a charter or private school.

 

2.      Prohibits the owner of a building on the SFB's list from withdrawing the property from sale or lease solely because a charter or private school is the highest bidder.

 

3.      Requires school districts to allow private schools to negotiate to buy or lease a vacant or unused building.

 

4.      Allows a school district to sell used equipment to a private school before attempting to sell or dispose of the equipment by other means.

 

5.      Makes technical and conforming changes.

 

6.      Becomes effective on the general effective date.

 

House Action

 

ED                   2/05/18     DP     7-4-0-0

3rd Read          2/15/18               34-23-3

 

Prepared by Senate Research

February 27, 2018

BL/lb