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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
school districts; teacher salaries; posting
Purpose
Subjects a school district that does not correct a violation of teacher salary posting requirements within 60 days to a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each day the violation continues. Requires the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to prominently post on its website the compiled report on school district teacher salaries.
Background
The Superintendent of Public Instruction prescribes a budget format to be used by all school districts that contains specified sections and information. Each school district must post the following information from its budget on its website home page, separately from the budget, for all teachers the school district employs: 1) the average current year salary; 2) the average previous year salary; and 3) the dollar increase and the percentage increase in the average salary for the current year. By November 30, ADE must annually compile and report the information on teacher salaries and salary increases 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).
Except as otherwise outlined, monies received for and belonging to the state are deposited in the state treasury and credited to the state General Fund (A.R.S. § 35-142). If the civil penalty for unremedied posting violations results in an increase to civil penalty revenues, there may be a fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires ADE, beginning on January 1, 2024, to annually notify a school district that ADE determines is in violation of the requirements to post teacher salary and salary increase information that:
a) the school district is in violation of the requirements; and
b) ADE may impose a civil penalty if the school district does not correct the violation.
2. Directs ADE to impose, on a school district ADE determines has failed to correct a violation within 60 days after ADE issues the violation notice, a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for each day the violation continues.
3. Requires ADE to prominently post on its website the compiled report on school district teacher salaries and salary increases.
4. Subjects, to the Office of Administrative Hearings administrative review process, ADE actions to enforce the posting requirements.
5. Makes technical changes.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 6, 2023
LB/KT/slp