SB 1233: school safety; proposals; assessments; plans. - Arizona

Senate Engrossed Version → HOUSE - Amended by APPROP - passed · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended by the House Appropriations Committee to significantly restructure charter school application and sponsorship requirements. The changes shift focus from school safety training for officers to establishing clear rules about who can sponsor charter schools and how applications are processed. These amendments add detailed criteria for determining separate charter holders and require fingerprint clearance checks for applicants and staff.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily addressing school officer training and safety programs to establishing comprehensive charter school application procedures and sponsorship eligibility criteria.

REQUIREMENT

Added detailed educational, business, and operational plan requirements for charter school applicants.

Required all charter school applicants and staff to submit fingerprints for criminal background checks before charter approval.

Removed provisions requiring school officers to receive training on interacting with children with disabilities.

ELIGIBILITY

Established specific criteria for determining when a school should be considered a separate charter holder, including separate governing bodies, different administrators, and distinct student populations.

SCOPE

Changed the bill's primary focus from school safety officer training to charter school application and sponsorship procedures.

House Engrossed Version → Senate Engrossed Version · 7 edits · Feb 27, 2025

MODERATE

This bill significantly expands Arizona's school safety program by adding new sections that establish training requirements for school officers regarding children with disabilities, create a comprehensive school safety program for funding safety personnel and infrastructure, and mandate regular safety assessments. The changes clarify definitions of school safety personnel, establish funding mechanisms for school resource officers and other safety staff, and add requirements for emergency response planning and annual safety assessments.

Scope change

The bill expands from primarily charter school provisions to include all public schools and charter schools, adding new sections for school safety programs that apply broadly across the state's educational system.

REQUIREMENT

Added Section 15-120.05 requiring school officers to receive training on recognizing and interacting with children with disabilities.

Added Section 15-154.02 requiring schools to develop emergency response plans and conduct triennial safety assessments with approved providers.

Modified Section 15-183 to require all charter schools to develop emergency response plans that address assistance for students with disabilities.

Added requirements for schools to submit program proposals by April 15 and receive annual reports on program effectiveness.

FISCAL

Created a new school safety program under Section 15-154 that provides funding for school resource officers, juvenile probation officers, school safety officers, counselors, and social workers.

Added provisions allowing school districts to share costs of school resource officers with law enforcement agencies.

DEFINITION

Expanded definitions in Section 15-154 to include various types of peace officers, reserve officers, retired officers, and juvenile probation officers as school safety personnel.

Introduced Version → House Engrossed Version · 8 edits · Feb 27, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to focus on charter school regulations rather than general school safety. The original version added requirements for school officer training and school safety program proposals, while the new version establishes comprehensive rules for charter school applications, operations, and oversight.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from general school safety measures applicable to all schools to specific charter school regulations and requirements.

REQUIREMENT

Removed requirements for school officers to receive training on interacting with children with disabilities.

Removed provisions for school safety program proposals and funding for resource officers, counselors, and social workers.

Added detailed requirements for charter school applications including educational, business, and operational plans.

Added comprehensive fingerprint clearance requirements for all charter school employees and applicants.

Added emergency response planning requirements specifically for charter schools.

Added provisions protecting charter school employees from reprisal when involved in charter applications.

Added rules about charter school property use, insurance requirements, and sponsorship fees.

Added annual reporting requirements for charter school sponsors to the auditor general.

school safety; proposals; assessments; plans.

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