ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fourth Legislature, First Regular Session
education programs; juvenile detention centers
Purpose
Increases base and variable funding amounts for juvenile detention center education programs (education programs).
Background
A county operating a juvenile detention center must offer an education program for all school-age children in its juvenile detention center. The county school superintendent and the presiding county juvenile court judge must agree on the method of delivery of the education program. The State Board of Education prescribes program standards and testing requirements to ensure programs are compatible with public school education goals and requirements. Currently, there are six counties that operate education programs in their juvenile detention centers.
A county may operate its education program through an existing accommodation school. However, if it does not, the county school superintendent may establish a detention center education fund (fund) to financially support the education program. The fund for each program consists of a base amount plus a variable amount.
Starting in FY 1995, statute set the base amount at $20,000, which is adjusted by the statutory growth rate, subject to appropriation. The base amount and variable amount for each county or counties served is funded with monies from the state General Fund (A.R.S. § 15-913).
The variable amount is determined based on the number of days during the previous fiscal year each child, in the detention center for more than 48 hours, received an instructional program of at least 240 minutes. The number of days is then multiplied by $15 which is adjusted by the growth rate, subject to appropriation. Children with disabilities receive additional funding as outlined.
With the proposed increases to the base and variable amounts in S.B. 1104, there is a potential impact of approximately $656,320 to the state General Fund.
Provisions
1. Increases, from $20,000 to $100,000, the base amount for education programs in FY 2020.
2. Directs any excess monies in the fund to supplement classroom spending.
3. Increases, from $15 per day to $25 per day, the variable amount per child for education programs in FY 2020.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 25, 2019
JO/gs