|
REFERENCE TITLE: classroom teacher supply assistance |
|
State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-third Legislature Second Regular Session 2018
|
|
HB 2373 |
|
|
|
Introduced by Representatives Engel: Andrade, Bolding, Butler, Campbell, Clark, Clodfelter, Hernandez, Martinez, Payne
|
AN ACT
amending Title 15, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-118; appropriating monies; relating to public schoolteachers.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-118, to read:
15-118. Classroom teacher supply assistance accounts; definition
A. Each school district and charter school shall establish a classroom teacher supply assistance account in its maintenance and operation budget. Monies in the classroom teacher supply assistance account shall be distributed to classroom teachers for the purchase of classroom supplies and materials.
B. Each school district and charter school shall distribute Monies in the classroom teacher supply assistance account to classroom teachers to purchase, on behalf of the school district or charter school, classroom materials and supplies to be used in the instruction of students. Monies distributed from the classroom teacher supply assistance account:
1. May not be used to purchase equipment.
2. Shall be used to supplement the materials and supplies otherwise available to classroom teachers, including monies distributed from the account that is prescribed in section 15‑354.
C. On or before July 15 of each year, the department of education shall distribute from the monies appropriated for this purpose an amount to each school district and charter school that is based on the total number of classroom teachers employed by that school district or charter school.
D. In addition to monies appropriated to and distributed by the department of education for this purpose, a school district or charter school may accept and deposit in the classroom teacher supply assistance account monies raised by or donated to the school district or charter school for the purchase of classroom supplies and materials.
E. Each year, each school district and charter school shall distribute an equal amount from the classroom teacher supply assistance account to each classroom teacher who is expected to be employed by the school district or charter school on September 1 of that year. The school district or charter school board may provide a classroom teacher who is determined to be eligible on July 1 with that teacher's total proportionate share on or before August 1 based on the estimate of the total number of teachers who will be employed on September 1. The school district or charter school shall provide a classroom teacher who is determined to be eligible after July 1 with that teacher's total proportionate share on or before September 30. The amount distributed from the classroom teacher supply assistance account to each Part‑time classroom teacher shall be prorated.
F. Monies distributed to classroom teachers pursuant to this section may be provided by any means determined appropriate by the school district governing board or the charter school governing body, including direct deposit, check, debit card or purchasing card. If a debit card is provided to a teacher for this purpose, an identifier must be placed on the front of the debit card that clearly indicates the card has been issued to allow that teacher to purchase classroom supplies and materials.
G. Purchases made with monies distributed from classroom teacher supply assistance accounts are not subject to competitive bidding requirements.
H. Monies received by a classroom teacher pursuant to this section do not affect wages, hours or terms and conditions of employment and are not subject to collective bargaining agreements.
I. Any classroom teacher may decline the receipt of or return the monies distributed under this section without explanation or cause.
J. Each classroom teacher who accepts monies distributed pursuant to this section shall do all of the following:
1. sign and date an acknowledgment of the receipt of the monies that includes the following statement:
I, ____________, am employed by the (_________ school district or ___________ charter school) as a classroom teacher. I acknowledge that these monies are appropriated by the Legislature for the sole purpose of purchasing classroom supplies and materials to be used in the instruction of students. In accepting custody of these monies, I agree to keep the receipts for all expenditures for at least three years. I understand that if I do not keep the receipts, it will be my personal responsibility to pay any state and federal taxes due on these monies. I also agree to return any unspent monies to the (school district or charter school) at the end of the regular school year for deposit in its classroom teacher supply assistance account.
2. Maintain receipts for monies spent pursuant to this section for at least three years.
3. return any unspent monies to the school district or charter school at the end of the regular school year for deposit in the school district's or charter school's classroom teacher supply assistance account.
K. The department of education, school districts and charter schools may, and are encouraged to, enter into public-private partnerships in order to increase the amount of monies available to classroom teachers in the classroom teacher supply assistance account.
L. For the purposes of this section, "classroom teacher":
1. Means a certified teacher who is employed by a school district or charter school on or before September 1 of each year and who provides classroom instruction to students.
2. Includes full‑time media specialists and certified school counselors.
Sec. 2. Appropriations; department of education; teacher classroom supply assistance
The following sums are appropriated from the state general fund in the following fiscal years to the department of education for distribution to school districts and charter schools for classroom teacher supply assistance as prescribed by this act:
1. $8,700,000 in fiscal year 2018-2019.
2. $11,600,000 in fiscal year 2019-2020.
3. $14,500,000 in fiscal year 2020-2021.