BILL #    HB 2248	TITLE: prisoners; services budget; postsecondary education
SPONSOR:    Gress	STATUS: As Introduced
PREPARED BY:    Geoffrey Paulsen

Description

The bill would add postsecondary education to the list of programs that need to be specified in the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) education services budget.

Estimated Impact

We estimate that the bill would have no General Fund impact.  The bill would require ADC to include information on postsecondary education in the agency's education budget, but it does not require ADC to provide any specific postsecondary education services.

Analysis

Current statute requires the director of ADC to establish and maintain a dedicated education services budget for each state prison for the following programs:

1. Functional literacy

2. Adult basic education

3. General equivalency diploma preparation

4. Vocational and technical education

The bill would add postsecondary education to the list of programs. 

The state budget does not appropriate monies to ADC specifically for education programs, but the department does provide educational services, including postsecondary education opportunities.  ADC has a variety of sources of funding available for education programs, including Basic State Aid formula funding for eligible K-12 students, revenue from other state funds that are authorized to be spent on education programs, and federal funding.  The department can also spend monies from its general operating budget on such services.

Local Government Impact

None

2/7/24