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REFERENCE TITLE: special education; cost study |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018
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SB 1254 |
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Introduced by Senator Allen S
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AN ACT
Amending section 15‑764, Arizona Revised Statutes; 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. Section 15-764, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
15-764. Powers and duties of the school district governing board or county school superintendent
A. The governing board of each school district or the county school superintendent shall:
1. Provide special education and related services for all children with disabilities and make such programs and services available to all eligible children with disabilities who are at least three years but less than twenty‑two years of age, except that a person who is being provided special education services at the time the person reaches twenty-two years of age shall continue to receive special education services from that school district until the end of that school year.
2. Employ supportive special personnel, which may include a director of special education, for the operation of special school programs and services for exceptional children.
3. To the extent appropriate, educate children with disabilities in the regular education classes. Special classes, separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment shall occur only if, and to the extent that, the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes, even with the use of supplementary aids and services, cannot be accomplished satisfactorily.
4. Provide necessary specialized transportation in connection with any educational program, class or service as required by the pupil's individualized education program.
5. Establish a policy with regard to allowable pupil‑teacher ratios and pupil‑staff ratios within the school district or county for the provision of special education services.
6. Prepare a detailed report of special education program expenditures for each disability classification prescribed in section 15‑761 in a format prescribed by the auditor general in conjunction with the department of education as provided in section 15-904.
B. The special education programs and services established pursuant to this section and section 15‑765 shall be conducted only in a school facility which that houses regular education classes or in other facilities approved by the division of special education.
C. The governing body of each school district, county or agency involved in intergovernmental agreements, in cooperation with another school district or districts, may establish special education programs for exceptional children. When two or more governing bodies determine to carry out by joint agreement the duties in regard to the special education programs for exceptional children, the governing bodies, in accordance with state law and the rules of the division of special education, shall establish a written agreement for the provision of services. In such agreements, one governing body of each school district, an agency involved in intergovernmental agreements or the county shall administer the program in accordance with the contract agreement between the school districts. Tuition students may be included in the agreement. The agreement may also include lease‑purchase of facilities for the special education programs for exceptional children.
D. The county school superintendent, upon on approval of the division of special education, may establish special education programs in the county accommodation schools under the jurisdiction of the superintendent or may cooperate with other school districts by agreement to provide such services for such special programs in accordance with the rules of the division of special education. At the beginning of each school year, the county school superintendent shall present an estimate of the current year's accommodation school exceptional programs tuition cost to each school district that has signed an agreement to use the services of the accommodation school. The tuition shall be the estimated per capita cost based on the number of pupils that each school district has estimated will enroll in the program, and the school district shall pay the tuition quarterly in advance on July 1, October 1, January 1 and April 1. Increases in enrollment during the school year over the school district's estimate of July 1 shall cause the tuition charges to be adjusted accordingly. In the event of overpayment by the school district of residence, the necessary adjustment shall be made at the close of the school year.
Sec. 2. Special education programs; special audit and cost study; delayed repeal
A. The auditor general shall conduct and complete a special audit and cost study of school district special education programs in this state. The department of education shall cooperate with and provide necessary information to the auditor general. The special audit and 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. Areas in special education programs in which this state can reduce or eliminate administrative and reporting requirements.
4. The use of and cost trends for independent evaluation teams.
5. Any other areas deemed necessary by the auditor general.
B. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2021.
Sec. 3. Appropriations
The sum of $150,000 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 special audit and cost study required by this act.