ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

Senate: ED DP 4-3-0-0 | 3rd 16-12-2-0

SB 1599: school districts; teacher salaries; posting

Sponsor: Senator Mesnard, LD 13

Committee on Education

Overview

Directs the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to notify a school district if the school district is in violation of average teacher salary posting requirements and establishes a civil penalty for uncorrected violations.

History

The Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Auditor General are required to prescribe a budget format that all school districts must use. This budget format must contain distinct sections for maintenance and operation, debt service, special projects, capital outlay, adjacent ways and Classroom Site Fund. Laws 2018, Chapter 285 further requires a school district's budget format to contain the prominent display of the average teacher salary for the current year and the previous year, as well as the dollar and percentage increase in the average teacher salary for the current year. This average teacher salary data must also be prominently posted on the school district's website home page.

By November 30 annually, ADE must submit a report that compiles the required average teacher salary data for all school districts to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Governor's Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting (A.R.S. § 15-903).

A charter school is subject to the same average teacher salary budget and website posting requirements as a school district. ADE must also compile a report containing the required average teacher salary data for charter schools (A.R.S. § 15-189.05).

Provisions

1. Requires ADE to prominently post the compiled average teacher salary report for school districts on its website. (Sec. 1)

2. Directs ADE, beginning January 1, 2024, to notify a school district that is determined by ADE to be in violation of average teacher salary posting requirements that:

a) the school district is in violation; and

b) ADE may impose a civil penalty if the violation is not corrected. (Sec. 1)

3. Instructs ADE, if it determines a school district has failed to correct a violation within 60 days after notice, to impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each day the violation continues. (Sec. 1)

4. Subjects actions taken by ADE to enforce average teacher salary posting requirements to appeal according to Uniform Administrative Hearing Procedures. (Sec. 1)

5. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

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9. SB 1599

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