Legislative Update

Chuck Essigs

HB2031 Schools; Contractors; Fingerprint Clearance Card

Requested by school districtsContractors, subcontractors,

vendors required to have fingerprint clearance cards

School districts by 12/31/09 adopt policies for exemptions

HB2073 Equalization Property Tax Repeal

County Education Equalization Rate

Reduced what state had to pay to schools

$0.38 rate / over $250 million

HB2111 Retirement; ASRS; Amendment

Only impacts members hired after July 1, 2010

Retirement calculation 60 months

Points increase from 80 to 85

HB2121 Tax Credit; Classroom Materials

Expands extracurricular tax credit to include textbooks, classroom technology or instructional materials

Report required

HB2122 School Districts; Override Elections (Striker Amendment) Increases M/O override to 15%15% M/O or 15% M/O and School

Plant Fund or M/O and K-3 up to 15%15% Override (replaces prior

overrides)10% Override in November passes,

can add 5% in MarchCommon school district with

existing K-3 can go for 17% override in March 2010. Valid until existing K-3 expires.

HB2137 School Bus Inspections; Rules

Removes requirement for DPS to inspect school buses

States that school buses must be inspected annually according to state rules/No action on bill since 2/11

HB2388 School Crossing; Signs

Provides wording for portable crossing signs

Modifies requirements for when signs need to be removed

HB2437 School Districts; Internet Based Advertising

School districts may sell advertising on their internet websites

Fund for the revenues to be used for student-related expenses

HB2459 Schools; Superintendents; CertificationDistricts can hire superintendents

without superintendent certificate

HB2463 School Districts; Accounting Responsibility; ThresholdRemoves 4,000 pupil threshold for

independent accounting program

HB2497 Schools; Post-employment Benefits

Allows funds to be set aside to cover costs for post-employment benefits

HB2516 Schools; Administrative Reduction

Reduces a number of non-essential requirements

HB2615 Government Transparency; Political SubdivisionsRequires a comprehensive and

searchable data base for receipts and expenditures to be run by Arizona Department of Administration. Significant data would need to be provided by school districts.

Senate Omnibus Bill

Establishes the Review Committee on Arizona National Ranking

Permits governing board to submit 3 names to County Superintendent for board vacancy (appointment from list not required)

Senate Omnibus Bill (continued)

District must always get permission from SFB before reducing square footage (now 3-year time frame)

Eliminate school register requirement

Senate Omnibus Bill (continued)

Allows for new student level data to not be due until July 1 of year following change (unless prescribed by law)

Change date for building renewal report from 9/1 to 10/15

Allow after school programs offering instruction at no cost to pupil to be exempt from child care license