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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
school district consolidations; elections
Purpose
Continues the statutory authorization for the consolidation of a common school district that is part of a union high school district consisting of two or fewer common school districts with that union high school district.
Background
Current statute allows seven types of school district consolidations through an election in each school district. The request to consolidate may be made by two or more governing boards or through a petition by qualified electors in each of the school districts proposing to consolidate (A.R.S. § 15-459).
In 2018, the Legislature statutorily authorized a common school district and a union high school district to consolidate by election to form a unified school district, if the common school district is part of a union high school district that consists of two or fewer common school districts. Statute prescribes the following requirements relating to this type of consolidation: 1) a common school district not included in the consolidation must become a common school district that is not within a high school district; 2) a unified school district must admit high school pupils who reside in a common school district that was not consolidated but was within the former union high school district's boundaries; and 3) a common school district not included in the consolidation must pay tuition for high school pupils attending the unified high school district. The statutory authorization and related requirements for this type of consolidation are repealed on January 1, 2021 (Laws 2018, Chapter 335).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Removes the January 1, 2021, expiration on the statutory authorization for a common school district and a union high school district to elect to consolidate and form a unified school district, if the common school district is part of a union high school district that consists of two or fewer common school districts.
2. Continues the requirements relating to this type of consolidation beyond January 1, 2021.
3. Requires a successor school district that results from the unification or consolidation of a school district that was participating in a career and technical education district (CTED), to participate in that CTED in the same manner as the former school district.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Removes changes to elections for school district consolidations.
2. Removes the appropriation.
Senate Action
ED 2/21/19 DPA 5-3-0
APPROP 3/4/19 W/D
Prepared by Senate Research
March 4, 2019
JO/LB/gs