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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, Second Regular Session
schools; governing board; unexpired term
Purpose
Requires, if a
school district governing board (governing board) election includes any
unexpired vacant terms, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes to
fill all full
four-year terms and the candidates receiving the next highest number of votes to
fill the remainder of any unexpired terms.
Background
A regular governing board election is held at the time and place, and in the manner, of a general election. To be eligible for election to a governing board, a person must be registered to vote in Arizona and be a resident of the school district for at least one year preceding the election. The term of office for an elected governing board member is four years (A.R.S. §§ 15-421 and 15-424).
Statute directs a county school superintendent to appoint a member to fill a governing board vacancy or, if deemed the best interest of the community, call a special election to fill the vacancy. The term of office for a governing board member who is appointed or elected through a special election is until the next regular election for governing board members (A.R.S. § 15-302).
In order to become a candidate and appear on the ballot at a governing board election, a person must file a nomination petition and a nomination paper with the county school superintendent between 120 and 150 days before the election. The county school superintendent may prepare separate ballots for the election or include the candidate's names as part of the regular ballot. The name of each person whose petition has been filed must appear on a ballot and may not include partisan or other designation except the title of the office. The nomination petition of a person seeking to fill an unexpired vacant term for a public office must designate the term's expiration date (A.R.S. §§ 15-422 and 16-314).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires, if a governing board election includes any unexpired vacant terms:
a) the candidates receiving the highest number of votes to fill all full four-year terms; and
b) the candidates receiving the next highest number of votes to fill the remainder of any unexpired terms.
2. Exempts a nomination petition of a person seeking to fill an unexpired term in a general governing board election from the requirement to designate the expiration date of the term on the nomination petition.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 5, 2024
MH/LB/sdr