Office of Government Relations

2005 Legislative Summary

First Regular Session of the 47th Legislature

Table of Contents


The 2005 First Regular Session of the 47th Arizona Legislature ended May 13th, 2005 at 1:25a.m.  This past session was a particular challenge to the District.  The focus of the 2005 session by many at the Arizona Capitol was on proposed legislative and budgetary changes to the community colleges. The Senate and House Higher Education committees dedicated entire agendas solely to many of these proposed changes.  There was a substantial amount of time spent meeting with individual legislative members, Senate and House leadership and committee chairs and providing committee testimony from District officials and college presidents. 


For 2005 there were a total of 1,311 bills introduced.  Of those, the Legislature approved 392. Of those the Governor signed 334 bills and vetoed 58 (3 of which were line-item vetoed).  In addition, there were 132 memorial resolutions introduced of which 25 were approved by the legislature.  Detailed here are the bills of interest to Arizona’s community colleges for the 2005 regular session.  They are cross-referenced in different formats to aid review.



Text Box: The Government Relations office of the Maricopa Community Colleges expresses its appreciation to the staff of the Arizona State Senate, the Arizona House of Representatives, Governor Janet Napolitano’s office, and the Arizona Community Colleges’ Association for their assistance and coordination throughout the 2005 legislative session and during the preparation of this publication. This document is intended to provide general information about new legislation of interest to the Maricopa Community Colleges with abstracts generated by House and Senate bill summaries and our Government Relations office. This information should not be relied upon for official purposes. Please refer to the Arizona Legislative Service of West Publishing and the official chapter laws as released by the Arizona Secretary of State for complete and specific information on newly enacted legislation. Any comments or inquiries should be referred to the Government Relations office at the Maricopa Community Colleges, 2411 W. 14th Street, Suite 636, Tempe, Arizona 85281, 480-731-8150. Matthew Ortega, Director Page Gonzales, Associate Director Chad Douwstra, Government Relations Associate Donna Warner, Administrative Assistant This publication is also available on the Internet at _____________. The website will provide the summaries, links to the actual chapter laws and opportunities to contact our office.

Legislative Priority

Maricopa Issue

Resolution/Outcome

Protect Base Funding

Oppose cuts to general budget reductions

Base funding was protected for Maricopa Community Colleges.

Full Funding of Enrollment Growth

State aid formula for community colleges should be fully funded

Growth formula was fully funded for Maricopa Community Colleges.

Arizona State Retirement Increases

Seek assistance to cover proposed District/employee contribution increases

FY05-06 contribution rate was reduced to 7.4% to provide relief to employees/employers experiencing impacts due to large percentage increases. This rate will be 9.10% effective July 1, 2006.

Initiative Funding

Increased funding for nursing programs

$4 million in funding annually until 2010 to fund nursing education.  Funding will be distributed to community colleges and universities based on graduating nursing students.

Proposition 301 Redistribution

Provide corrective language to set order of fund distribution

Administrative correction provided: Official documentation from JLBC and the

Treasurer’s office revising the order of recipients for Prop. 301 funds.

Community College Baccalaureate

Higher Education realignment discussions

The higher education reform bill, which included the community college baccalaureate,

progressed until the last days of session.  The bill was ultimately held from a final

floor vote. The Governor established a P-20 Council to look at higher education issues including transfer, articulation and baccalaureate offerings for community colleges. The Legislature established an Ad Hoc Committee on higher education to address these issues as well. 


Community College Statutory Funding Formula

Discuss weighted formula to provide more state aid for occupational programs

This issue was included in the baccalaureate discussions.  Language was added to the higher education reform bill for a 1.5 weighted FTSE for health care profession baccalaureate offerings.

JCCR Review Authority

Seek clarification in statute to eliminate review of general obligation bonds

The JCCR gave a favorable review to the $190.3 million General Obligation bond

issuance with the provision that the Maricopa Community College District report to the

Committee on actual project costs when the district returns for review of the second issuance. Legislative oversight of the community colleges will be an ongoing issue.

Other issue areas...

Subject

Community College issue

Resolution/outcome

Budget

Proposed reductions in the amount of $23 million during the first round of budget negotiations.

Base funding was protected for FY 06 budget.

Dual enrollment

Prohibition of mixed classes, passage of the AIMS test as a prerequisite to dual enrollment and the limitation of dual enrollment to vocational education classes only.  

Chapter 152…Related to contracts and community college advisory committee meetings.

Immigration

HB 2030:  Prohibited ADE from providing adult education classes to adults who are not lawfully present in the U.S., stated persons without lawful immigration status are not entitled to classification as in‑state students, prohibited entitlement of these students to tuition or fee waivers, grants, scholarship assistance, financial aid and required each community college to report twice yearly to the JLBC the number of people who applied to participate in the stated programs and the number who were not eligible for those programs due to their status.

Vetoed by the Governor.

Social security numbers

HB 2149: Extended current social security number restrictions to prohibit state or political subdivisions, including school and community college districts, from requesting a social security number unless required by federal law. This could have had an impact on our Admissions and Records offices countywide.

Held by the sponsor.

Charter school sponsorship

Allowed a university, private institution or community college to sponsor a charter school, however it also would have precluded those community colleges with such sponsorships from counting students that may have attended both for state funding purposes.

Vetoed by the Governor.

Family Literacy

HB 2050 officially transferred the Family Literacy Program from the ADE Adult Education Division to the Division of Early Childhood Education Programs.

Signed by the Governor, Chapter 147.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Budget Miscellaneous
Education Bills that failed to pass
Construction/Procurement Resolutions that failed to pass
Elections New Committees/Boards
Retirement/Human Resources Bills Vetoed by the Governor
Taxation/Bonding

                                                                                                    

BUDGET

SB 1294 professions and occupations; shortage Chapter 314 See Executive Summary
SB 1294 establishes the Arizona Partnership for Nursing Education Demonstration Project to increase the capacity of Arizona nursing education programs in Arizona.
SB 1513/HB 2764 general appropriations; budget Chapter 286 See Executive Summary
This bill makes state General Fund and other fund appropriations for FY 2005-2006 for the operations of state government.  SB 1513 includes full-funding for community colleges. 
SB 1516/ HB 2767 K-12 education; budget Chapter 329
SB 1516 makes statutory and session law changes necessary to implement the FY 2005-2006 budget related to general K-12 education funding, transportation funding, desegregation, Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind teaching contracts and joint technological education districts.
SB 1517/ HB 2768 higher education; budget  Chapter 330 See Executive Summary

Provisions of this bill include:

  • Prohibits a district from being eligible for growth funding unless the most recent audited FTSE count exceeds the highest audited FTSE count recorded from and after FY 2003-04.
  • Changes the ability of the ABOR to differentiate the tuition and fees between institutions and residents, nonresidents, undergraduate students, graduate students, students from foreign countries and students who have earned credit hours in excess of the hour threshold, unless the student’s chosen program requires additional credit hours above the threshold for a degree. The credit hour threshold for FY 2006-07 is 155, decreasing to 150 in FY 2007-08 and 145 for each fiscal year thereafter. This provision begins with the 2006-07 academic year. 
  • The bill also prohibits the Legislature from appropriating monies supporting any university student who has exceeded the credit hour threshold, unless the student’s chosen program requires additional credit hours above the threshold for a degree.
  • Requires the FTSE enrollment reported by each university for the prior fiscal year to be annually audited by the Auditor General and delineates the university FTSE calculation.
  • Establishes university FTSE auditing guidelines including a provision that the basic FTSE enrollment must be counted on the 21st day.
  • Requires the ABOR to determine current actual FTSE enrollment at each of the universities under its jurisdiction.

Medical Campus Appropriation

  • Appropriates $3,000,000 from the state General Fund to the UA Health Sciences Center in FY 2005-06. Appropriates an additional $3,000,000 in FY 2005-06 to the Center upon submission of operational and capital plans for the medical campus by the ABOR.
  • Appropriates $500,000 from the state General Fund to ASU in FY 2005-06 for the Department of Biomedical Informatics. Appropriates an additional $500,000 in FY 2005-06 to the Department upon submission of operational and capital plans for the medical campus by the ABOR.
  • Provides that it is the intent of the Legislature that no more than $7,000,000 from the state General Fund be appropriated for the Phoenix medical campus in any fiscal year.

Phoenix Medical Campus

  • Requires the UA to establish a medical campus in Phoenix, utilizing the campus of Phoenix Union High School. Stipulates that the campus shall address medical education needs throughout the state.
  • Requires the medical campus to accommodate 24 first year medical students continuously through the remaining years of their instruction and clinical rotations.
  • Requires the ABOR, by December 31, 2005, to submit a progress report to the JLBC detailing expenditures, the status of renovations, the status of faculty and staff and any changes to the project scope or schedule.
  • Requires the ABOR to submit any significant material changes to the operational plan to the JLBC and any significant material changes to the capital plan to the Joint Committee on Capital Review.

Clinical Rotations

  • Stipulates that public and private medical schools shall not prohibit a hospital from entering into an agreement to provide clinical rotations to qualified osteopathic or allopathic medical students.

Medical Education Tuition Assistance

  • Appropriates $1,500,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2005-06 to the Board of Medical Student Loans for medical education tuition assistance. Requires that 50% of the monies be used for private medical school student scholarships.
  • Authorizes the Board to grant scholarships to first-year medical students to defray the expenses of medical education at a public or private medical school in this state. The bill prescribes procedures and requirements for the scholarships.

Nursing Education Demonstration Project

SEE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF SB 1294, CHAPTER 314, FOR FURTHER DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION

  • Establishes the Arizona partnership for Nursing Education Demonstration Project to increase the capacity of nursing education programs in Arizona.
  • Requires the project to address the state’s nursing shortage by increasing the number of nurses graduating from nursing education programs with the goal of doubling the number of nurses by the end of FY 2009-10.
  • Appropriates $4,000,000 annually from the state General Fund for four years, from FY 2005-06 through FY 2009-10, to the Nursing Education Demonstration Project Fund.
  • Establishes the Nursing Education Demonstration Project Fund, consisting of monies appropriated to the Fund and monies provided by any federal agency, entity or program for nursing education and workforce expansion. Monies are exempt from lapsing.
  • Requires monies in the Fund to be used to increase the number of qualified nursing education faculty members to teach in nursing degree programs operated and overseen by the ABOR or by community college districts.
  • Requires Fund monies to be allocated into an ABOR account and a community colleges account based on the number of nursing students graduating in FY 2004-05 from programs offered or overseen by the ABOR compared to the number of nursing students graduating in FY 2004-05 from programs offered or overseen by community colleges.
  • Requires the ABOR to establish a process to annually distribute fund monies from the ABOR account to universities for use in nursing programs.
  • Requires a statewide organization representing community colleges to establish a process to annually distribute fund monies from the community colleges account to community colleges for use in nursing programs.

Miscellaneous

  • Requires the ABOR to submit a report by December 31, 2005 to the JLBC and the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting on the advisability and options for implementing a tuition structure that limits tuition increases for continuing students to no more than inflation.
  • Requires the ABOR to submit a report by December 1, 2005 to the JLBC and the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting on the FTSE enrollment as of the 21st and 45th day of the Fall 2005 semester at each university.  The report must also include the advantages and disadvantages of using either enrollment count, or enrollment count for any other day of the semester, for funding purposes.  The ABOR must complete a similar report by April 15, 2006 for the Spring 2006 semester
SB 1521/ HB 2772 state budget procedures; budget See Executive Summary Chapter 331
This measure makes various changes necessary for the state’s budget reconciliation including ASRS contribution revisions. 
HB 2619 community colleges; declining enrollment Chapter 244
HB 2619 prohibits a community college district from being eligible for growth funding unless the most recent audited FTSE count exceeds the highest audited FTSE count recorded from and after FY 2003-04.
HB 2779/SB 1528 taxation; corporations; property; budget Chapter 302
HB 2779 provides property tax reform measures. The bill reduces the assessment ratio for class one (commercial, industrial and mining) properties from 25% to 20% of full cash value over ten years.  The bill also updates the truth in taxation statutes regarding the qualifying tax rate and the county equalization assistance for education rate to reflect the JLBC calculation for FY 2006.  HB 2779 increases the Additional State Aid for owner-occupied residential properties from 35% of the primary school tax rate to 40% over five years and increases the current maximum amount for a rebate from $500 to $600 over five years.

 

EDUCATION

SB 1010 college savings oversight committee; membership Chapter 251
This bill adds an individual with investment, asset management and financial related expertise and an individual employed by a community college or university with investment, asset management and financial related expertise to the Committee.  The bill then removes the Director of the Securities Division of the Arizona Corporation Commission or the director's designee and the president or chancellor of a community college district from the Committee.
SB 1196 in-state tuition; spouses Chapter 255
This bill permits an in-state student classification for the spouse of an Arizona resident.
SB 1009 school buildings; air quality Chapter 182
SB 1009 provides requirements for maintaining indoor air quality in schools.  Additionally, the School Facilities Board is responsible for conducting an environmental site assessment when approving the construction of a school building and is authorized to deny school building projects if certain conditions exist.
SB 1011 membership; school councils; district employees Chapter 42
SB 1011 allows a parent or guardian who is employed by a school district to serve as a member of the school council where their child is enrolled if the parent or guardian is not employed by that same school.
SB 1038 AIMS test; graduation; exceptions Chapter 304
SB 1038 exempts pupils from the requirement to achieve a passing score on the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) test in order to graduate from high school if the pupil meets certain requirements. Additionally, pupils may be eligible for additional credit to be applied to the their AIMS test score in order to graduate from high school.
SB 1044 schools; crime reports; pupil interviews Chapter 167
SB 1044 allows school district governing boards to develop policies on parental notification and presence when law enforcement interviews a student on the school site. The bill also requires schools to report the total number of incidents on campus reported to law enforcement agencies on school report cards.
SB 1059 charter schools; fingerprinting; supervision Chapter 47
SB 1059 allows a volunteer or guest speaker without a valid fingerprint card to work directly with students at a charter school if they are accompanied by a person with a valid fingerprint card.
SB 1072 special education; scope; gifted pupils

Chapter 48
SB 1072 transfers gifted pupils and school district governing board powers for gifted pupils from the article on Special Education for Exceptional Children to a newly created article on Special Education for Gifted Children.
SB 1074 school districts; performance based compensation Chapter 305 See committee listing

SB 1074 establishes the Arizona Performance Based Compensation System Task Force and establishes guidelines for a school district governing board adopting a performance based compensation system.

Other provisions include:

  • Requires a school district governing board to adopt a performance based compensation system at a public hearing to allocate funding from the Fund.
  • Requires a school district governing board to vote on a performance based compensation system based on specified elements.
  • Requires a performance based compensation system to include teacher professional development programs aligned with the elements of the system.
  • Allows a school district governing board to modify specified elements, consider additional elements and specify criteria used when adopting a performance based compensation system at a public hearing.
  • Requires each school district to develop an assessment plan for its performance based compensation system by December 31, 2009, and to submit the plan to the Arizona Department of Education by December 31 each year.
  • Removes the requirement for school districts and charter schools receiving monies from the Fund to submit a summary of the results of district and school programs funded with these monies.
SB 1122 schools; medications; civil immunity Chapter 192
SB 1122 provides immunity from civil liability to school districts, charter schools and school district and charter school employees for consequences associated with good faith administration of prescription medications to students. 
SB 1199 schools; residents of unorganized territory Chapter 310
This bill requires residents of unorganized territory to form a new school district or join an existing district if 150 or more certificates of educational convenience are granted annually from the unorganized territory.
SB 1223 charter schools; used equipment Chapter 55
SB 1223 allows a school district to sell used equipment to a charter school before the school district attempts to sell or dispose of the equipment by other means. 
SB 1271 schools; Arizona gun safety program Chapter 58
SB 1271 allows school districts and charter schools to offer the Arizona Gun Safety Program as an elective, one-semester course where a pupil that has demonstrated the ability to safely discharge a firearm is deemed to have satisfactorily completed the course and will receive a certificate of accomplishment. Additionally, SB 1271 establishes minimum program requirements.
SB 1289 stranger danger; K-8 curriculum Chapter 265
SB 1289 allows school districts and charter schools to develop and incorporate instruction on the dangers of unsupervised interaction with strangers into existing K-8 curriculum.
SB 1309 school pupils; asthma; self-medication Chapter 279
SB 1309 requires school districts to adopt and enforce policies and procedures to allow pupils who have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis to carry and self-administer emergency medications while at school and school sponsored activities.
SB 1348 state private postsecondary education board Chapter 204
SB 1348 makes various changes to the Arizona State Board for Private Secondary Education.
SB 1352 AIMS; special education exceptions Chapter 205
SB 1352 makes exceptions to competency test and the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards test graduation requirement for special education and disabled students.
SB 1422 TAPBI program; school Chapter 323
This bill changes the eligibility requirements for the Technology Assisted Project-Based Instruction program and adds additional program reporting and oversight measures.
HB 2050 family literacy programs; requirements Chapter 147 See Executive Summary
HB 2050 transfers the Family Literacy Program from the Arizona Department of Education Division of Adult Education to the Division of Early Childhood Education Programs, allows for composition changes to project teams and makes changes to the grant application requirements. 
HB 2229 school pupils; breathing; medication Chapter 41
HB 2229 allows for a pupil who has written parental consent to possess and self-administer handheld inhaler devices for breathing disorders and establishes an exemption from civil liability for school districts and employees who, in good faith, make decisions or take actions to implement these provisions.
HB 2299 schools; dual enrollment; contracts Chapter 152 See Executive Summary
HB 2299 requires community college districts to provide the Joint Legislative Budget Committee a copy of the dual enrollment contract between the community college district and school district as part of the annual report on dual enrollment programs. Additionally, statutory community college advisory committees on dual enrollment are required to meet a minimum number of times each academic year. 
HB 2349 education omnibus Chapter 272
HB 2349 is an education omnibus bill that makes changes to the statutory authority of the State Board of Education (SBE) to adopt rules for procurement limits, makes changes to the formal rule-making process for the SBE, makes changes to the reporting requirements for schools to the Arizona Department of Revenue.
HB 2368 school policies; pupils; bullying

Chapter 155
HB 2368 directs school district governing boards to adopt and enforce procedures that prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating and bullying other pupils.
HB 2417 schools; intervention; financial mismanagement

Chapter 274
HB 2417 establishes rules and regulations allowing the State Board of Education (SBE) to declare a receivership and to appoint a receiver to take control of a school district that is insolvent or has grossly mismanaged its finances.
HB 2418 joint technological education districts Chapter 294  See committee listings
HB 2418 makes changes to the statutes relating to joint technological education districts (JTEDs) and establishes the Task Force on Joint Technological Education Districts to review funding and operational issues of JTEDs and school districts.
HB 2432 extended school year; criteria Chapter 18
HB 2432 changed the criteria for determining the need and eligibility of a pupil with disabilities for extended school year services. 
HB 2435 kindergarten instruction; academic standards Chapter 77
HB 2435 requires school districts that establish a kindergarten program to offer half-day kindergarten programs that provide instruction aligned with the academic standards adopted by the State Board of Education. Additionally, a school district that establishes a full-day kindergarten program must allow each parent of a kindergarten pupil to choose either half-day or full-day kindergarten instruction.
HB 2438 charter school sponsors; fees Chapter 156
HB 2438 prohibits the sponsor of a charter school from charging fees to a charter school unless the sponsor has provided services to the charter school and the fees represent the full value of the services provided.
HB 2497 schools; desegregation; reporting requirements Chapter 159
HB 2497 changes the statutory reporting requirements for school districts under a court order of desegregation or an administrative agreement with the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
HB 2534 special education; dispute resolution Chapter 277
HB 2534 requires the State Board of Education to adopt specific rules for due process hearings for special education disputes. Additionally, HB 2534 amends the definition of parent and defines due process hearing, impartial administrative law judge, public education agency and state educational agency.
HB 2544 schools; nutrition standards Chapter 238
HB 2544 requires the Arizona Department of Education to develop minimum nutrition standards that meet at least the federal guidelines for food and beverages sold on the school grounds of elementary, middle and junior high schools during the school day.
HB 2697 school districts; overrides; retroactive applicability Chapter 250
HB 2697 retroactively eliminates the two-year statutory phase-down period for a unified school district budget override if certain conditions are met.

CONSTRUCTION and PROCUREMENT

HB 2223 architects; engineers; contractor licensing exemption Chapter 129
HB 2223 specifies the conditions under which architects and engineers are authorized to hire the services of a licensed contractor.
HB 2382 construction projects; school facilities Chapter 293
This bill allows school districts to expend new school construction funds for new school facility project management and preconstruction services.

 

ELECTIONS

SB 1053 elective offices; temporary military vacancies Chapter 189
SB 1053 establishes a temporary vacancy replacement procedure for elected officers called for active military duty.
SB 1207 community colleges; elections; political influence

Chapter 197
SB 1207 prohibits the use of university resources to influence an election and establishes penalties for violations in the use of university or community college district resources to influence an election.
SB 1218 election laws; secretary of state Chapter 98
SB 1218 modifies requirements and filing procedures for voter registration, nomination petitions and political committees.
SB 1342 voting equipment; election procedures Chapter 144
SB 1342 allows the Secretary of State to revoke voting machine certifications, authorize emergency voting systems and administer a fund for cities and towns that enroll employees in the election certification program.
HB 2623 bond elections; ballot language Chapter 164
HB 2623 requires ballots for bond elections to contain a phrase stating that property taxes will be imposed as a result of bond issuance.

RETIREMENT and HUMAN RESOURCES

SB 1017 payroll deduction agreements; group benefits Chapter 82
This bill authorizes a state employee payroll deduction for premiums on any state sponsored group benefit.
SB 1366 retirement; contribution limits; service purchase Chapter 208
SB 1366 is an emergency measure that increases the minimum contribution rates for EORP, CORP and PSPRS, and allows members of EORP to purchase past service with the U.S. government, another state or a political subdivision in another state.
SB 1386 group life insurance; premiums Chapter 211
SB 1386 allows group life insurance policy premiums to be paid entirely by the insured member.
SB 1472 professional employer organizations Chapter 212
SB 1472 requires the registration of professional employer organizations with the Secretary of State and outlines requirements for the professional employer agreement.
HB 2194 public agencies; contractors; risk pools Chapter 219
HB 2194 allows a public agency pool to invest monies not held with the county treasurer and increases the time period the Department of Insurance is required to examine pools to five years from three years.
HB 2472 ASRS; payroll deduction agreements; purchases Chapter 231
HB 2472 modifies Arizona State Retirement System payroll deduction agreements, participation in federal retirement and deferred compensation plans by school district, community college district and university employees and redefines compensation for the purposes of calculating retirement benefits.
HB 2562 ASRS; investment disclosure; limitations Chapter 161
HB 2562 requires a list of investments owned to be included on request in the Arizona State Retirement System’s annual financial report and requires ASRS to report to the Legislature companies held in the fund that are known to support international terrorism.
HB 2621 retiree health insurance; rural subsidy Chapter 297
HB 2621 extends the premium benefit supplement (also known as rural subsidy or benefit supplement) for retirees eligible for Medicare, for two more years, from June 2005 to 2007.

TAXATION and BONDING

SB 1041 property tax exemptions; continuing eligibility Chapter 186
This bill modifies the application process for a widow, widower or disabled person to receive a property tax exemption.
SB 1335 small business investments; tax credit Chapter 316
This bill establishes an individual income tax credit program overseen by the Department of Commerce for qualified investments made in qualified small businesses.
HB 2134 board of equalization; property valuation Chapter 40
HB 2134 requires the State Board of Equalization to consider all competent evidence including valuation of similar property in appeal hearings when evidence is presented by the taxpayer.
HB 2155 2005 tax corrections act Chapter 11
HB 2155 makes technical, conforming, and clarifying changes to the Arizona tax statutes.
HB 2252 property tax administration Chapter 131
HB 2252 provides several changes to county treasurer’s procedures including clarifying that the county treasurer or board of supervisors will act as the agent for the state for the collection of property tax liens that are assigned to the state.
HB 2779/SB 1528 taxation; corporations; property; budget Chapter 302
HB 2779 provides property tax reform measures. The bill reduces the assessment ratio for class one (commercial, industrial and mining) properties from 25% to 20% of full cash value over ten years.  The bill also updates the truth in taxation statutes regarding the qualifying tax rate and the county equalization assistance for education rate to reflect the JLBC calculation for FY 2006.  HB 2779 increases the Additional State Aid for owner-occupied residential properties from 35% of the primary school tax rate to 40% over five years and increases the current maximum amount for a rebate from $500 to $600 over five years.

MISCELLANEOUS

SB 1019 county property leases; procedures

Chapter 43
SB 1019 eliminates notice and public auction requirements relating to county leases of land or buildings under specific circumstances.
SB 1047 community restitution Chapter 187
This bill redefines, in statute, community service as community restitution when community service is ordered.
SB 1125 biomedical research commission Chapter 170
SB 1125 changes the name of the Arizona Disease Control Research Commission to the Biomedical Research Commission and increases the amount of compensation members on the Commission may receive.
HB 2470 social security numbers; civil penalty Chapter 230
HB 2470 creates a civil penalty of $100 for violating the social security number confidentiality restrictions.

BILLS THAT FAILED TO PASS...

SB 1032 public buildings; compliance with codes
This bill required remodeled, altered or structurally repaired components of public buildings to meet current applicable fire and building codes.
SB1109/ HB2385/ HB2079 higher education reform

Provisions of this reform package included:

  • Prohibited the formation of a new provisional community college district.
  • Grandfathered Gila Provisional Community College District under the statutory limitations previously prescribed for provisional community college districts.
  • Allowed community college districts, beginning in FY 2006-07, to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees with the following stipulations:
  • The community college district governing board, along with other district boards, must annually provide written notification to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Transfer Articulation Commission by September 15 of their intention to offer four year baccalaureate degrees in the next fiscal year.
  • District boards, before September 15 of the year prior to the first year of offering baccalaureate degrees, must  submit a report to the JLBC and the Transfer Articulation Commission.
  • By October 1, 2005, community college districts, in conjunction with other community college districts that intend to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees, must calculate a statewide budget that estimates the weighted full-time equivalent student enrollment for 300- and 400-level courses to be offered by the community college district.
  • Requires district boards to develop the performance measures in conjunction with other district boards by September 15, 2005.
  • The community college district governing boards must be prepared to offer 300- and 400-level academic courses by the beginning of the spring semester of 2007.
  • Universities under the jurisdiction of the ABOR must use the same admission criteria to graduate degree programs for persons who have been awarded baccalaureate degrees issued from a community college as used for persons who have received baccalaureate degrees from a traditional four-year postsecondary institution.
  • Requires participating community college districts to collaborate with other community college districts on the development of curriculum for comparable programs.
  • Requires districts to continue associate degree programs, terminal courses of a technical and vocational nature and basic adult education courses.
  • Limits the baccalaureate offerings of a community college district to law enforcement services, fire services, health professions, teacher education and any academic discipline that is workforce-related that a university under the ABOR does not award a four-year degree and that matches an existing associate of applied science degree.  (Eastern Arizona College is exempt from these limitations.)
  • Prohibits Yavapai Community College District, Coconino Community College District, Yuma/La Paz Community College District and Cochise Community College District from offering four-year baccalaureate degrees.
  • Limits the number of community colleges in Maricopa Community College District that may offer four-year baccalaureate degrees to 50%, as determined by the governing board.
  • Limits the number of campuses in the Pima Community College District that may offer four-year baccalaureate degrees to three, as determined by the governing board.
  • Allows a community college district to estimate the 300- and 400-level academic courses for FTSE during the first two years for state aid and state aid per capita for capital outlay.  In the third year, the community college district’s state aid must be adjusted accordingly for discrepancies between estimated and actual FTSE enrollment for those two years as determined by the Auditor General.

 

Graham County Community College District

  • Capped the amount the Graham County Board of Supervisors may levy in FYs 2006-07 through 2011-12 at $1.50 per $100 of assessed valuation.  Monies collected from this levy must be placed in a separate capital account of the community college district and may be expended on capital construction projects that are reviewed at a public meeting by the Joint Committee on Capital Review. 
  • Required the Graham County Community College District governing board to adopt a resolution by June 30, 2011 to either continue as a community college district and continue the tax levy or dissolve the community college district, discontinue the tax levy and transfer authority of Eastern Arizona College to the ABOR.
  • Established the Graham County Community College District per FTSE amount for state aid per capita for capital outlay at $210 for students in vocational courses and 100- and 200-level academic courses, and $36 for students in 300- and 400-level academic courses.

Community College Operating State Aid Funding

  • Replaced current operating state aid FTSE growth rate funding formula requirements and distributions. 
  • Established a per FTSE growth formula for state aid for individual community college districts. 
  • For students in the health professions, a full-time student enrolled in 300- and 400-level courses that lead to a baccalaureate degree shall be counted as 1.5 students.
  • Changes the manner that community college districts determine the base amount of state aid to be adjusted in the next fiscal year. 
  • Prohibits a declining FTSE enrollment community college district from growth funding until the district attains the prior audited FTSE count. 
  • Establishes the FY 2005-06 community college base funding, before adjusting for growth in FY 2006-07. 
  • States that until the operating state aid and state aid per capita for capital outlay formulas calculate a higher amount than listed below as the amount necessary for the base, if the following districts do not generate the amount listed through the operating state aid and state aid per capita for capital outlay formulas, the following amount shall be appropriated to the district:

 

District

Amount Necessary for Base

Amount Appropriated for Operating State Aid

Amount Appropriated for Capital Outlay State Aid

Navajo Community College District

$7,724,900

$7,148,000

$576,900

Pinal Community College District

$6,684,000

$5,915,800

$768,200

Graham Community College District

$16,950,260

$16,346,560

$603,700

 

Once the operating state aid and state aid per capita for capital outlay formulas exceeds these amounts, the larger amount shall serve as the base amount for adjusting growth for operating state aid in the following fiscal year.

University Funding

  • Established a per FTSE growth formula for universities under the jurisdiction of the ABOR.  The JLBC, in consultation with the ABOR, must annually determine the FTSE change at each university under the ABOR. 
  • Required the FTSE enrollment reported by each university for the prior fiscal year to be annually audited by the Auditor General. 
  • Established university FTSE auditing guidelines.  The universities, beginning in 2006, shall provide a certified report to the Auditor General on the number of FTSE calculated by the university.  Beginning in 2006, each university must submit to the Auditor General a summary of its FTSE enrollment accounting policies and procedures, compilation procedures and source records as developed by the ABOR, in consultation with the Auditor General and reviewed by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.  The policies must include minimum requirements for students enrolled in classes, including the requirement that the class be for-credit necessary for the completion of a degree and that the student enrolled in the course be physically present in Arizona at the time the course is conducted.  The basic FTSE enrollment must be counted on the 21st day.  Class rosters with enrollment must be provided by the registrar’s office to each professor or instructor for each class containing specified information and a declaration that the professor or instructor certifies that the information in the class roster accurately reflects those students who are enrolled.
  • Required the ABOR to determine current year actual and estimate next year FTSE enrollment at each of the universities under its jurisdiction. 
  • Delineated the university FTSE calculation.

Transfer Articulation

Required the community colleges and universities to establish the Transfer Articulation Committee.

Established a 19-member Transfer Articulation Commission under the ABOR to:

  • Establish a mission statement.
  • Monitor and examine the statewide articulation and transfer system.
  • Provide a forum for persons to express their concerns about transfer articulation issues.
  • Make administrative and legislative recommendations concerning transfer articulation issues.
  • Work to make systemic recommendations to improve the transfer articulation system.

Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Program

Amended the Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Program by requiring an equal number of students be selected each year who are enrolled in private technical and vocational schools and private postsecondary education institutions that offer four-year degrees and that are regionally accredited.

Replaced the statutory eligibility requirements of the Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Program.

Changed the per student award amount.

Appropriated a total of $5,000,000 in FY 2005-06 from the state General Fund to the Private Postsecondary Education Student Financial Assistance Fund.  These monies are exempt from the provisions of lapsing.  Of these monies, $2,500,000 must be awarded to qualifying students who are enrolled in private vocational and technical schools in Arizona and $2,500,000 must be awarded to qualifying students who are enrolled in private postsecondary education institutions in Arizona that are regionally accredited, four-year baccalaureate degree institutions.

Miscellaneous

Recalculated county reimbursement for out-of-county tuition per FTSE.

Stated that for a county without an established community college district that has approved a community college reimbursement levy the county must use these revenues to fund the county reimbursement for out-of-county tuition reimbursement.    Any monies remaining must be either:

Used to reduce the property tax levied in the following year.

Deposited into a separate account for capital and building renewal purposes for community college facilities owned by the county where the facilities are located.  The account shall not exceed $5,000,000.  Additionally, the county board of supervisors may appoint a five-member community college facilities advisory committee to issue recommendations.

Eliminated community college district equalization assistance.

Established the 7-member Community College Implementation Committee charged with reviewing:

  • Annual community college reports on 300- and 400-level credit courses that lead to a baccalaureate degree.
  • Annual community college reports on districts that wish to offer 300- and 400-level credit courses that lead to a baccalaureate degree.
  • Written requests by a district to offer 300- and 400-level credit courses that lead to a baccalaureate degree.
  • Funding options and proposals for community college districts that currently offer 300- and 400-level credit courses that lead to a baccalaureate degree.
  • Submitting an annual report by December 31 summarizing the findings and conclusions to the Governor and the Legislature. 
  • Repealed the Community College Implementation Committee January 1, 2011
SB 1181 e-learning centered schools
This bill established e-learning centered schools and communications and appropriated several million dollars from the state general fund for these purposes.
SB 1230 right to copies; personnel files
SB 1230 granted employees the right to receive copies of the employee’s personnel file once in a six-month period and established penalties for failure to produce copies of the employee’s personnel file.
SB 1241 universities; faculty powers
This bill allowed the faculty members of each university to determine their own faculty organizational structure and to select representatives to take part in institutional governance. 
SB 1322/1323 contractors; indemnity agreements
SB 1322 voided indemnity provisions in private construction and architect-engineer contracts.
SB 1331 community college boards; term limits
This bill stated that no member may serve more than two consecutive terms, except that service for a partial term of less than five years shall not be counted toward the two term limitation.
SB 1380 local obligation bonds; amount
SB 1380 removed the net premium cap associated with general obligation bonds.
SB 1385 community college boards; term limitations
This bill prescribed term limits based on population counts for members of a community college district governing board.
SB 1389 community college board members; offices
SB 1389 prohibited offices of community college district governing board members from being located on the campus of a community college.
SB 1426 ASRS; spousal consent
SB 1426 appropriated $125,558 from the Arizona State Retirement System Administration Account in FY 06 to ASRS for 1.5 FTE for implementation of this act, which required consent of a member’s current spouse before a member changes his or her beneficiary.
SB 1490 equal access to government property
This bill stated that Arizona or its political subdivisions, including a school district, community college district or university, shall not deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, any nonprofit organization that wishes to meet in the entity's designated open forum or limited public forum because of the organization's beliefs, expression of beliefs or exercise of rights of association that are protected in the United States Constitution or Arizona’s Constitution.
HB 2052 community colleges; campus matching monies
HB 2052 was an emergency measure that retroactively changed the distribution of community college campus capital matching monies. Additionally, the bill contained a Proposition 105 clause.  See Executive Summary
HB 2086 provisional community colleges; financing
HB 2086 allowed provisional community college districts to receive operating state aid and capital outlay state aid during their first two years of operations based on estimated student enrollment. Additionally, HB 2086 allowed provisional community college districts to receive vocational education and workforce development monies. The bill contained a Proposition 105 clause.
HB 2105 provisional community college districts; repeal
HB 2105 repealed provisional community college districts.
HB 2149 social security numbers; government request
HB 2149 extended the current social security number restrictions to prohibit state or political subdivisions, including school and community college districts, from requesting a social security number unless required by federal law. See Executive Summary
HB 2261 universities; tuition monies; scholarships; prohibition
This bill stated that no portion of tuition, fees or other remuneration collected from a student may be used to fund any tuition, grant, scholarship assistance or other financial aid to any other student.
HB 2263 undocumented persons; postsecondary assistance; prohibition
This bill stated that a person who is not a citizen of the United States, who is without lawful immigration status and who is enrolled as a student at any university under the jurisdiction of the ABOR or at any community college under the jurisdiction of a district is not entitled to tuition waivers, fee waivers, grants, scholarship assistance, financial aid, tuition assistance or any other type of financial assistance that is subsidized or paid in whole or in part with state monies.
HB 2264 college tuition; undocumented immigrants
This bill prohibited non-citizen, undocumented immigrants from receiving state education financial aid benefits for higher education.
HB 2267 school teachers; immunity
HB 2267 exempted a full-time certificated teacher from personal civil liability for all acts done and actions taken in good faith in evaluating or grading a student.
HB 2294 AIMS test; graduation requirement; prohibition
HB 2294 exempted pupils from the requirement to achieve a passing score on the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards test or other competency test in order to graduate from high school.
HB 2296 schools; dual enrollment; regular classes
This bill stated that instruction in college courses that are offered at a high school during the school day and that may be counted toward both high school and college graduation requirements shall not be simultaneously provided in the same classroom by the same instructor to pupils who do not elect to enroll for college credit.  See Executive Summary
HB 2362 provisional community colleges; expenditure limitation
HB 2362 required the Economic Estimates Commission to determine the expenditure limit for provisional community college districts in the sixth year of operation, based on the expenditures of the previous five years.
HB 2370 county jail education programs; funding
HB 2370 changed the base amount and variable funding formula for funding county jail education programs.
HB 2375 existing teacher aides; certification
This bill stated that if the State Board of Education ever requires the certification of aides to classroom teachers, the certification requirements shall include a performance based track for every person who was employed as an aide to a classroom teacher before the certification requirements are adopted.
HB 2412 charter schools; universities; prohibition
This bill stated that  ABOR nor any university under the jurisdiction of ABOR may sponsor, own or operate a charter school.
HB 2419 joint technological education districts; funding
HB 2419 required school districts that are part of a joint technological education district (JTED) and JTEDs to use monies generated as part of a JTED to enhance career and technical education and vocational education courses. Additionally, participating school districts that had supplanted career and technical education courses would be required to phase those monies back into those programs over a three year period.
HB 2436 failing schools tutoring fund; distribution
HB 2436 changed the eligibility requirements of the Failing Schools Tutoring Fund and made changes to the requirements for providers from the Fund.
HB 2465 universities; placement test
HB 2465 required the Arizona Board of Regents to ensure students who are accepted for admission to a public university demonstrate twelfth grade competencies in reading, writing and mathematics.
HB 2473 ASRS retirees; eligibility for AHCCCS
HB 2473 placed Arizona retirees in the eligibility statute of Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System.
HB 2507 vocational education; graduation requirements
This bill stated that the minimum course of study for high school shall include two credit hours of vocational or technological education.
HB 2538 construction; business losses; compensation
House Bill 2538 allowed a business owner to recover damages for business losses due to public construction activities, from the state or authorizing political subdivision, that permanently reduces business activities or that temporarily reduces business activities if the losses last longer than eight months.
HB 2552 ASRS; retirees; graded multiplier increase
HB 2552 granted a one-time permanent benefit increase to all Arizona State Retirement System members who were retired on August 8, 2001.
HB 2563 cable television; services
HB 2563 modified the fees that cities, towns and counties establish for new cable television systems licenses.
HB 2617 public construction; bidding; best value
This bill stated that all evaluation factors shall be considered in determining the numerical score for each participating bidder and an award shall be made to the responsive and responsible bidder whose bid is determined, in writing, to be most advantageous to the state governmental unit, taking into consideration all evaluation factors prescribed in the best value bid.
HB 2641 appropriation; teachers; retirement contributions
HB 2641 appropriated $80,000,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2005-06 to the State Board of Education for distribution to school districts for teacher salary increases to offset increased contribution rates to the Arizona State Retirement System.
HB 2671 statewide retiree health insurance program
HB 2671 repealed current requirements for the Department of Administration and the Arizona State Retirement System to establish group health and accident coverage for retired members and required DOA to establish and administer a separate retiree group health and accident coverage program beginning January 1, 2007.
HB 2719 procurement; qualified select bidders list
HB 2719 modified various statutes by adding a new method by which state and local government agencies can procure professional construction services.

RESOLUTIONS THAT FAILED TO PASS...

SCR 1020 budget stabilization act
This resolution prohibited the Legislature from appropriating, starting FY 2007-2008, state revenues that exceed the amount of state revenues appropriated in the preceding year, with adjustments made for changes in population, cost of living and transfers of government functions.
SCR 1034 secondary taxes; supermajority voter approval 
This resolution required the approval of a two-thirds majority of the voters for specified election issues levying a secondary property tax.
HCR 2029 taxpayer bill of rights
HCR 2029 was a referendum measure to specify methods for determining maximum limits on state revenues and expenditures for FY 2008 and each year thereafter.
HCR 2048 property tax; valuation; new construction
This resolution reduced the amount that primary property values may increase each year.
HCR 2058 residential property tax levy limit
This resolution stated that the maximum amount of ad valorem taxes that may be collected from residential property in any tax year shall not exceed the lesser of: One per cent of the property's full cash value or the amount of ad valorem taxes that were levied against the property in the preceding tax year, adjusted by the positive or negative percentage change from the preceding year in the GDP price deflator, or its successor index.

 

NEW COMMITTEE, TASK FORCE and BOARD LISTINGS

 

While it is necessary to further review all bills that have passed to determine whether they contain study committees of interest to community colleges, the following committees or task forces have been initially identified.

SB 1068 School District Redistricting; Commission; Approval

SB 1068 establishes the 13-member School District Redistricting Commission to design a proposal to unify school districts in Arizona based on certain criteria  (for membership information see Chapter 191) .

  • Requires the Commission to submit a preliminary report on the proposed school district unification plan to the governing boards of the affected school districts by April 30, 2007. The Commission must consider the recommendations of the governing boards of the affected school districts.
  • Requires the Commission to hold public hearings statewide and hear testimony on each affected school district.
  • Requires the Commission to include an estimate of the impact of the plan on the State General Fund if the proposed recommendations are approved by the voters, as well as the estimated cost of the elections for reimbursement of the school districts.
SB 1074 school districts; performance based compensation

SB 1074 establishes the Arizona Performance Based Compensation Task Force within the State Board of Education and specifies membership (for membership information see Chapter 305).

  • Requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to submit annual data provided by school districts regarding funding received from the Fund to the Task Force beginning in February 2006. 

  • Requires the Task Force to conduct annual evaluations of a quarter of the school districts’ performance based compensation systems based on the data submitted and to submit a summary of its findings and conclusions to the Legislature and Chairpersons of the House of Representatives and Senate K-12 Education Committees. 

  • Requires the Task Force to provide recommendations to the SBE on the implementation, operation and monitoring of the performance based systems and career ladder programs in school districts by June 30, 2010. 

  • Requires the Task Force to develop and submit written recommendations to the Governor, Legislature, SBE, Secretary of State and the Director of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
SB 1360 Retiree Health Insurance Committee; Recommendation

SB1360 establishes a retiree health insurance committee to review and evaluate  recommendations on retiree health insurance.

  • Establishes the Retiree Health Insurance Committee consisting of nine members (for membership information see Chapter 207) .
  • Requires the Committee to review and evaluate the retiree health insurance options proposed by Mercer and recommend one of the options to the Governor.
  • Requires the Committee to submit a report of its recommendations by December 31, 2005 to the Speaker of the House, President of the Senate and the Governor, as        well as provide a copy to the Secretary of State and the Arizona State Library Archives and Public Records.
SB 1517 Joint Study Committee on Medical School Education

SB 1517 establishes the Joint Study Committee on Medical School Education (for membership information see Chapter 330) .

  • Prescribes that the Committee shall review publicly and privately provided education, plans submitted by the Arizona Commission on Medical Education and Research, funding necessary to address medical education needs, implications of family practice on graduate medical education, methods to retain practitioners, locations for medical training facilities, medical needs of communities, funding for any phase of the medical campus and other market and environmental factors that create barriers to the practice of medicine in Arizona.
  • Requires the Committee to submit a report by December 1, 2005 summarizing the Committee’s findings and conclusions to the Governor, the Legislature and the Arizona State Library.
HB 2111 Physical Education Implementation Task Force

HB 2111 establishes the 15-member Mandatory Physical Education Task Force.  (for membership information see Chapter 67) .

  • Requires the Task Force to develop an implementation plan along with a draft proposal for legislation that will result in a uniform physical education program in grades K-8.
  • The Arizona Department of Education, Department of Health Services and appropriate legislative staff will staff the Task Force.
  • The bill requires the Task Force to submit a final report including the implementation plan and the draft proposal for legislation to the Legislature, Governor and the State Board of Education by December 15, 2005.
HB 2418 Task Force on Joint Technical Education Districts

This bill establishes the Task Force on Joint Technological Education Districts consisting of members appointed by the President and the Speaker (for membership information see Chapter 294).  The Task Force shall:

  • Evaluate and make specific recommendations concerning the state and local funding of JTEDs.
  • Evaluate and make specific recommendations concerning governance issues of JTEDs and between school districts and JTEDs for vocational education courses.
  • Evaluate and make specific recommendations concerning JTEDs that provide courses primarily at facilities located at centralized campuses owned and operated by the JTED and concerning JTEDs that primarily provide satellite courses at facilities owned or operated by school districts.
  • Evaluate and make recommendations concerning which vocational education courses should be approved by the Career and Technical Education Division of the Arizona Department of Education.
  • Determine the appropriate funding level and funding mechanisms for students who are enrolled in high school courses that involve instructors, services and facilities furnished by a combination of a JTED, a community college district and a school district.  
  • Submit a report of its findings, recommendations and proposed legislation to the Legislature and the Governor by December 1, 2005.
The Joint Ad Hoc Task Force on Higher Education

The purpose of the Joint Ad Hoc Task Force on Higher Education Reform:

  • Examine and recommend necessary financing and accountability structures to meet the accessibility and affordability needs of students in this state both now and in the future;
  • Examine direct and indirect financing mechanisms for higher education;
  • Examine the acquisition and disposition of major assets of higher education institutions;
  • Examine student based funding for higher education;
  • Examine performance based funding for higher education;
  • Examine financial aid issues pertaining to higher education institutions;
  • Examine the institutional structure of higher education institutions;
  • Examine tuition and fee increases by higher education institutions;
  • Examine the taxing authority of higher education institutions;
  • Examine issues pertaining to the offering of baccalaureate degrees by community colleges including: academic programs, regions for offerings and the number of degrees
  • Examine any other issue the task force deems appropriate.

The task force shall submit an annual report by December 31, 2005. The task force expires December 31, 2010.
Membership: Downing, Knaperek (Co-Chair), Miranda, Pearce, Tully (House), Gray (Co-Chair), Johnson, Martin, Mitchell, Soltero (Senate)
P-20 Council

The P-20 Council, created by executive order, will be chaired by the Governor. She has appointed Maricopa Community College District Chancellor Rufus Glasper to serve as co-chair.

“P-20” refers to the concept of life-long learning. The P-20 Council will incorporate current public and private sector education initiatives and provide a framework and direction for systemic change where needed. The Governor’s office states the council charges include: 

  • Aligning high school, college, and work expectations.
  • Helping students at all levels meet higher standards and prepare for formal education and workforce training beyond high school.
  • Providing all students with the excellent teachers and leaders that they need, particularly in the areas of math, science and literacy.
  • Strengthening high school and postsecondary accountability systems to better prepare students for college and increase enrollment and completion rates.
  • Reaching down into middle school and elementary standards to ensure high school preparedness for math and science.
  • Ensuring clear pathways for all students to obtain college degrees regardless of point of entry.
  • Assessing the need to expand 4-year degree programs at post-secondary institutions.

Membership of the Council will include Regents, the three state university presidents; K-12 educators from the state, local districts and charter schools; legislators; and leaders from  construction and technology industries.

 

BILLS VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR (see attached veto messages)

SB 1085   charter schools; sponsorship
This bill broadened the entities authorized to sponsor a charter school to include a public or private nonprofit university, public or private nonprofit college or community college and also prohibited a public university, college or community college from including a student enrolled and attending a charter school sponsored by that university, college or community college in its student count for state funding purposes. Vetoed by the Governor See Executive Summary
SB 1527 tuition organizations; tax credit; budget
SB 1527 allowed corporations to claim an income tax credit for contributions made to a school tuition organization that provides educational scholarships and tuition grants to children of low income families. Vetoed by the Governor.
HB 2030 public programs; citizenship
The bill specified that the Department of Education must provide ABE and family literacy classes only to persons who are citizens or legal residents of the United States, or otherwise lawfully present in the United States. This bill stipulated that the SBE shall report twice yearly to the JLBC the number of parents who applied to participate in the Family Literacy program and the number of parents who were not eligible to participate in the Family Literacy program because the parent was not a citizen or legal resident of the United States or was not otherwise lawfully present in the United States.   The bill stated that a person who is not a citizen or legal resident of the United States or who is without lawful immigration status is not entitled to be classified as an in-state student. This person  would not be entitled to tuition waivers, fee waivers, grants, scholarship assistance, financial aid, tuition assistance or any other type of financial assistance that is subsidized or paid in whole or in part with state monies. Community colleges and universities would be required to report twice yearly to the JLBC the number of students who applied and the total number of students who were not entitled to tuition waivers, fee waivers, grants, scholarship assistance financial aid, tuition assistance or any other type of financial assistance that is subsidized or paid in whole or in part with State monies because the student was not a citizen or legal resident of the United States or was not otherwise lawfully present in the United States. Vetoed by the Governor.
HB 2226 federal funds; reporting
This bill required state budget units to provide the Legislature with detailed information regarding the receiving, expending and dispensing of federal monies. Vetoed by the Governor.
HB 2328 local ballot questions; full disclosure
This bill required Legislative Council to provide an impartial ballot measure analysis for ballot proposals referred by the Legislature to a county or to a special district that shares the same boundaries as the county.  The bill exempted members and employees of the Legislature from liability for actions taken or omissions made during the drafting of the analysis. Vetoed by the Governor
HB 2718 English language learners
HB 2718 revised the process for assessment, classification, reassessment and monitoring of pupils with a primary or home language other than English; established a nine-member Arizona English Language Learners Task Force charged with specified duties; required school districts and charter schools to develop SEI programs and submit SEI plans for English language learners (ELLs); established duties for the Arizona Department of Education the State Board of Education and the Auditor General; and established the Arizona Structured English Immersion Fund and the Statewide Compensatory Instruction Fund.  Vetoed by the Governor (A special session is expected to be called in the coming months to resolve this issue.)