ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

House: ED DPA 9-0-0-1

HB 2341: county jails; education programs; appropriation

Sponsor: Representative Shah, LD 5

Committee on Appropriations

Overview

Increases the funding a pupil who is enrolled in a county jail education program generates and appropriates a blank amount from the state General Fund (GF) for county jail education programs.

History

A county that operates a county jail must offer an education program to all prisoners who: 1) are 21 years old or younger; 2) do not have a high school diploma or a general equivalency diploma; and 3) are confined to the county jail. The county school superintendent and the county sheriff must agree on the method to deliver this program.

A county may operate its county jail education program through an accommodation school that provides alternative education services. Currently, pupils enrolled in an accommodation school county jail education program are funded at 72% of the amount the pupil would generate if they were enrolled in another accommodation school program.

Alternatively, the county school superintendent may establish a county jail education fund if the county chooses not to operate an accommodation school county jail education program. The county jail education fund for each program consists of a base amount of $14,400, plus a variable amount, both of which are funded with state GF monies, subject to appropriation.

For nondisabled pupils, this variable amount is $10.80 per instructional day. The variable amount for a pupil who is a child with a disability (disabled pupil) is calculated according to a statutory formula that takes into consideration an amount equal to 72% of the amount the pupil would receive under the special education institutional voucher formula, as well as $72 for capital outlay costs (A.R.S. §§ 15-913.01, 15-1204).

Provisions

1. Funds pupils enrolled in an accommodation school county jail education program and disabled pupils funded through a county jail education fund at the full amount, rather than 72% of the amount, the pupil generates according to statute. (Sec. 1)

2. Increases the amount added for capital outlay costs for a disabled pupil funded through a county jail education fund from $72 to $100. (Sec.1)

3. Appropriates a blank amount from the state GF in FY 2024 to the Superintendent of Public Instruction to distribute to county school superintendents for county jail education programs. (Sec. 2)

4. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Education

1. Sets the appropriation at $76,000.

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5. HB 2341

6. Initials CH/SJ Page 0 Appropriations

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