ARIZONA STATE SENATE

CECELIA SICKELBOWER

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH INTERN

ANNA NGUYEN

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

DATE:            March 27, 2023

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to H.B. 2210, relating to school board member; empowerment; access

Purpose

Requires a school district governing board (governing board) member to have at least the same level of access to school district office facilities and staff as any employee of the school district office.

Background

A governing board has the authority to prescribe policies and procedures to govern schools that are not inconsistent with the laws and rules prescribed by the State Board of Education. The powers and duties of the governing board include: 1) prescribing the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of pupils; 2) employing a superintendent or principal, or both; 3) holding pupils accountable for disorderly conduct; 4) prescribing policies for disciplinary actions against teachers and administrators; and 5) providing supervision over pupils in instructional or noninstructional activities (A.R.S. § 15-341). The governing board is composed of three or five elected members. A person is eligible for election to the governing board if they are a registered voter and have been a resident of the school district for at least one year (A.R.S. § 15-421). A school district is a political subdivision of Arizona with geographic boundaries organized for the purpose of the administration, support and maintenance of the public schools or an accommodation school (A.R.S. § 15-101).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Requires a governing board member to have:

a) at least the same level of access to school district office facilities and staff during regular business hours as any employee of the school district office; and

b) the ability to access school district office facilities without staff.

2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.