ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: ED DPA/SE 7-2-2-1

HB 2883: technical correction; school district boards

S/E: school districts governing boards; training

Sponsor: Representative Hernandez L., LD 24

Caucus & COW

Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to HB 2883

Overview

Establishes a biennial training requirement for school district governing board (governing board) members.

History

A person is eligible for election to a governing board if the person: 1) is a registered Arizona voter; 2) has been a resident of the school district for at least one year immediately preceding election day; and 3) is not subject to registration as a sex offender (A.R.S. § 15-421).

Governing boards are tasked with numerous statutory powers, including: 1) prescribing and enforcing policies and procedures to govern schools that are not inconsistent with rules prescribed by the State Board of Education; 2) managing and controlling school property; 3) constructing or purchasing school buildings and sites as authorized; and 4) using school monies received from the state and county to pay employee salaries and contingent expenses of the school district (A.R.S. § 15-341).

The Arizona Auditor General (OAG), in conjunction with the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), establishes the Uniform System of Financial Records (USFR) for all school districts to use each fiscal year. The USFR prescribes the minimum internal control policies and procedures to be used by school districts for accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, attendance reporting and other compliance requirements (A.R.S. § 15-271) (USFR).

Provisions

1. Requires ADE, in consultation with the OAG, to develop a training program for governing board members that includes instruction on:

a) school district governance;

b) public school finance;

c) USFR compliance;

d) how to develop and revise a school district budget;

e) audit requirements and procedures;

f) how to prepare the annual financial report;

g) best practices related to internal controls;

h) reports and resources provided by the OAG;

i) fiduciary duties of governing board members; and

j) any other ADE-determined topics. (Sec. 1)

2. Mandates each governing board member of each school district complete the ADE-developed training at least biennially. (Sec. 1)

Amendments

Committee on Education

1. Allows ADE to charge the school district for the cost of providing the training.

2. Requires the school district to pay for any costs incurred by ADE to provide the training.

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6. HB 2883

7. Initials CH Page 0 Caucus & COW

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