ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: ED DP 7-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 24-5-1-0

SB 1584: small school districts; substitute teachers

Sponsor: Senator Kerr, LD 25

Committee on Education

Overview

Enables a small school district to employ a substitute teacher who is related to a member of the school district's governing board and prohibits that governing board member from voting on substitute teacher matters.  

History

A school district employee, including an employee of a third-party contractor, or their spouse, is prohibited from holding membership on the governing board by which the employee is employed (A.R.S. § 15-421).

A governing board member's dependent may not be employed in the same school district without consent from the governing board, though conflict of interest laws prohibit a governing board from employing a governing board member or a governing board member's spouse. Additionally, these laws require any public officer or employee of a public agency who has, or whose relative has, a substantial interest in any contract, service or decision for their public agency to make their interest known. These officers and employees may not vote on or participate in such a decision (A.R.S. §§ 15-502, 38-503).

A small school district is a school district that: 1) has fewer than 600 students in kindergarten through the 8th grade or the 9th-12th grades; 2) contains at least one school that is fewer than 30 miles from another school, that teaches one or more of the same grades and that is operated by another Arizona school district; and 3) is designated as a small school district by the Superintendent of Public Instruction (A.R.S. § 15-901).

Provisions☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

1.   Authorizes a small school district to employ, including employment through a third-party contractor, a substitute teacher who is related to a member of the school district's governing board as:

a)   their spouse; or

b)   immediate family who has had the same household of residence in the preceding four years. (Sec. 1)

2.   Mandates a governing board member who is related to an employed substitute teacher be recused from voting on substitute teacher matters. (Sec. 1)

3.   Defines small school district. (Sec. 1)

4.   Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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8.                     SB 1584

9.   Initials CH/SJ        Page 0 Education

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