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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
juveniles; educational classes; discretionary
Purpose
Allows a committed youth who is at least 16 years old to take an equivalency diploma test.
Background
The Director of the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections (ADJC) must establish a state educational system for committed youth to provide appropriate education as required by state and federal law, including education for a committed youth who has not received a high school diploma or certificate of equivalency (A.R.S. § 41-2831). A committed youth who is confined in a secure care facility and has not received a high school diploma, high school certificate of equivalency or an exception from the Director of ADJC (Director) must attend school full time and make satisfactory progress in educational classes. A committed youth who has achieved a high school diploma or certificate of equivalency may participate in classes or an educational program as deemed appropriate by ADJC (A.R.S. § 41-2822.01).
A committed youth is a person who has been legally committed to ADJC for supervision, rehabilitation, treatment and education and who is between 14 and 18 years old, or up to 19 years old if the youth is subject to retained jurisdiction (A.R.S. § 41-2801).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Allows a committed youth in a secure care facility who has not received a high school diploma, certificate of equivalency or an exception from the Director to take the general equivalency diploma test or an equivalency diploma test approved by the State Board of Education (SBE) at any time if the youth is:
a) at least 16 years old; and
b) functionally literate.
2. Allows the Director to require the committed youth to complete and pass a practice test in order to request the administration of a general equivalency diploma test or an SBE-approved equivalency test.
3. Makes technical changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Reinstates the requirement for the Director to require a committed youth who has not received a high school diploma, certificate of equivalency or an exception to attend school and make satisfactory progress in educational classes.
2. Requires a committed youth to be at least 16 years old to take a diploma equivalency test or an SBE-approved equivalency test.
3. Allows the Director to require a committed youth to pass a practice test before requesting the administration of a diploma equivalency test.
Senate Action
ED 2/15/22 DPA 8-0-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 17, 2022
LB/KJA/slp