Legislative Update Chuck Essigs

HB2031 Schools; Contractors; Fingerprint Clearance Card  Requested by school districts  Contractors, 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 March  Common school district with existing K-3 can go for 17% override in March 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; Certification Districts can hire superintendents without superintendent certificate

HB2463 School Districts; Accounting Responsibility; Threshold Removes 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 Subdivisions Requires 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