Senate Engrossed

 

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-third Legislature

Second Regular Session

2018

 

 

SENATE BILL 1066

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending sections 15‑341, 15‑2001, 15‑2002 and 15‑2032, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to school facilities board.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Section 15-341, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-341.  General powers and duties; immunity; delegation

A.  The governing board shall:

1.  Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for the governance of the schools that are not inconsistent with law or rules prescribed by the state board of education.

2.  Exclude from schools all books, publications, papers or audiovisual materials of a sectarian, partisan or denominational character.  This paragraph shall does not be construed to prohibit the elective course permitted by section 15‑717.01.

3.  Manage and control the school property within its district.

4.  Acquire school furniture, apparatus, equipment, library books and supplies for the use of the schools.

5.  Prescribe the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of pupils as provided in sections 15‑701 and 15‑701.01.

6.  Furnish, repair and insure, at full insurable value, the school property of the district.

7.  Construct school buildings on approval by a vote of the district electors.

8.  Make in the name of the district conveyances of property belonging to the district and sold by the board.

9.  Purchase school sites when authorized by a vote of the district at an election conducted as nearly as practicable in the same manner as the election provided in section 15‑481 and held on a date prescribed in section 15‑491, subsection E, but such authorization shall not necessarily specify the site to be purchased and such authorization shall not be necessary to exchange unimproved property as provided in section 15‑342, paragraph 23.

10.  Construct, improve and furnish buildings used for school purposes when such buildings or premises are leased from the national park service.

11.  Purchase school sites or construct, improve and furnish school buildings from the proceeds of the sale of school property only on approval by a vote of the district electors.

12.  Hold pupils to strict account for disorderly conduct on school property.

13.  Discipline students for disorderly conduct on the way to and from school.

14.  Except as provided in section 15‑1224, deposit all monies received by the district as gifts, grants and devises with the county treasurer who shall credit the deposits as designated in the uniform system of financial records.  If not inconsistent with the terms of the gifts, grants and devises given, any balance remaining after expenditures for the intended purpose of the monies have been made shall be used for reduction of school district taxes for the budget year, except that in the case of accommodation schools the county treasurer shall carry the balance forward for use by the county school superintendent for accommodation schools for the budget year.

15.  Provide that, if a parent or legal guardian chooses not to accept a decision of the teacher as provided in section paragraph 42 of this subsection, the parent or legal guardian may request in writing that the governing board review the teacher's decision.  This paragraph shall does not be construed to release school districts from any liability relating to a child's promotion or retention.

16.  Provide for adequate supervision over pupils in instructional and noninstructional activities by certificated or noncertificated personnel.

17.  Use school monies received from the state and county school apportionment exclusively for payment of salaries of teachers and other employees and contingent expenses of the district.

18.  Make an annual report to the county school superintendent on or before October 1 in the manner and form and on the blanks prescribed by the superintendent of public instruction or county school superintendent.  The board shall also make reports directly to the county school superintendent or the superintendent of public instruction whenever required.

19.  Deposit all monies received by school districts other than student activities monies or monies from auxiliary operations as provided in sections 15‑1125 and 15‑1126 with the county treasurer to the credit of the school district except as provided in paragraph 20 of this subsection and sections 15‑1223 and 15‑1224, and the board shall expend the monies as provided by law for other school funds.

20.  Establish bank accounts in which the board during a month may deposit miscellaneous monies received directly by the district.  The board shall remit monies deposited in the bank accounts at least monthly to the county treasurer for deposit as provided in paragraph 19 of this subsection and in accordance with the uniform system of financial records.

21.  Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for disciplinary action against a teacher who engages in conduct that is a violation of the policies of the governing board but that is not cause for dismissal of the teacher or for revocation of the certificate of the teacher.  Disciplinary action may include suspension without pay for a period of time not to exceed ten school days.  Disciplinary action shall not include suspension with pay or suspension without pay for a period of time longer than ten school days. The procedures shall include notice, hearing and appeal provisions for violations that are cause for disciplinary action.  The governing board may designate a person or persons to act on behalf of the board on these matters.

22.  Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for disciplinary action against an administrator who engages in conduct that is a violation of the policies of the governing board regarding duties of administrators but that is not cause for dismissal of the administrator or for revocation of the certificate of the administrator.  Disciplinary action may include suspension without pay for a period of time not to exceed ten school days.  Disciplinary action shall not include suspension with pay or suspension without pay for a period of time longer than ten school days.  The procedures shall include notice, hearing and appeal provisions for violations that are cause for disciplinary action.  The governing board may designate a person or persons to act on behalf of the board on these matters.  For violations that are cause for dismissal, the provisions of notice, hearing and appeal in chapter 5, article 3 of this title shall apply.  The filing of a timely request for a hearing suspends the imposition of a suspension without pay or a dismissal pending completion of the hearing.

23.  Notwithstanding sections 13‑3108 and 13‑3120, prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that prohibit a person from carrying or possessing a weapon on school grounds unless the person is a peace officer or has obtained specific authorization from the school administrator.

24.  Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures relating to the health and safety of all pupils participating in district sponsored district‑sponsored practice sessions or games or other interscholastic athletic activities, including:

(a)  The provision of water.

(b)  Guidelines, information and forms, developed in consultation with a statewide private entity that supervises interscholastic activities, to inform and educate coaches, pupils and parents of the dangers of concussions and head injuries and the risks of continued participation in athletic activity after a concussion.  The policies and procedures shall require that, before a pupil participates in an athletic activity, the pupil and the pupil's parent must sign an information form at least once each school year that states that the parent is aware of the nature and risk of concussion.  The policies and procedures shall require that a pupil who is suspected of sustaining a concussion in a practice session, game or other interscholastic athletic activity be immediately removed from the athletic activity.  A coach from the pupil's team or an official or a licensed health care provider may remove a pupil from play.  A team parent may also remove the parent's own child from play.  A pupil may return to play on the same day if a health care provider rules out a suspected concussion at the time the pupil is removed from play.  On a subsequent day, the pupil may return to play if the pupil has been evaluated by and received written clearance to resume participation in athletic activity from a health care provider who has been trained in the evaluation and management of concussions and head injuries.  A health care provider who is a volunteer and who provides clearance to participate in athletic activity on the day of the suspected injury or on a subsequent day is immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this subdivision, except in cases of gross negligence or wanton or wilful neglect. A school district, school district employee, team coach, official or team volunteer or a parent or guardian of a team member is not subject to civil liability for any act, omission or policy undertaken in good faith to comply with the requirements of this subdivision or for a decision made or an action taken by a health care provider.  A group or organization that uses property or facilities owned or operated by a school district for athletic activities shall comply with the requirements of this subdivision.  A school district and its employees and volunteers are not subject to civil liability for any other person or organization's failure or alleged failure to comply with the requirements of this subdivision.  This subdivision does not apply to teams that are based in another state and that participate in an athletic activity in this state.  For the purposes of this subdivision, athletic activity does not include dance, rhythmic gymnastics, competitions or exhibitions of academic skills or knowledge or other similar forms of physical noncontact activities, civic activities or academic activities, whether engaged in for the purposes of competition or recreation.  For the purposes of this subdivision, "health care provider" means a physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13 or 17, an athletic trainer who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 41, a nurse practitioner who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 15, and a physician assistant who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 25.

25.  Establish an assessment, data gathering and reporting system as prescribed in chapter 7, article 3 of this title.

26.  Provide special education programs and related services pursuant to section 15‑764, subsection A to all children with disabilities as defined in section 15‑761.

27.  Administer competency tests prescribed by the state board of education for the graduation of pupils from high school.

28.  Ensure that insurance coverage is secured for all construction projects for purposes of general liability, property damage and workers' compensation and secure performance and payment bonds for all construction projects.

29.  Keep in the personnel file of all current and former employees who provide instruction to pupils at a school information about the employee's educational and teaching background and experience in a particular academic content subject area.  A school district shall inform parents and guardians of the availability of the information and shall make the information available for inspection on request of parents and guardians of pupils enrolled at a school.  This paragraph shall does not be construed to require any school to release personally identifiable information in relation to any teacher or employee, including the teacher's or employee's address, salary, social security number or telephone number.

30.  Report to local law enforcement agencies any suspected crime against a person or property that is a serious offense as defined in section 13‑706 or that involves a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument or serious physical injury and any conduct that poses a threat of death or serious physical injury to employees, students or anyone on the property of the school.  This paragraph does not limit or preclude the reporting by a school district or an employee of a school district of suspected crimes other than those required to be reported by this paragraph.  For the purposes of this paragraph, "dangerous instrument", "deadly weapon" and "serious physical injury" have the same meanings prescribed in section 13‑105.

31.  In conjunction with local law enforcement agencies and emergency response agencies, develop an emergency response plan for each school in the school district in accordance with minimum standards developed jointly by the department of education and the division of emergency management within the department of emergency and military affairs.

32.  Provide written notice to the parents or guardians of all students enrolled in the school district at least ten days prior to before a public meeting to discuss closing a school within the school district.  The notice shall include the reasons for the proposed closure and the time and place of the meeting.  The governing board shall fix a time for a public meeting on the proposed closure no not less than ten days before voting in a public meeting to close the school.  The school district governing board shall give notice of the time and place of the meeting.  At the time and place designated in the notice, the school district governing board shall hear reasons for or against closing the school.  The school district governing board is exempt from this paragraph if it is determined by the governing board determines that the school shall be closed because it poses a danger to the health or safety of the pupils or employees of the school.  A governing board may consult with the school facilities board for technical assistance and for information on the impact of closing a school.  The information provided from the school facilities board shall not require the governing board to take or not take any action.

33.  Incorporate instruction on Native American history into appropriate existing curricula.

34.  Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures:

(a)  Allowing pupils who have been diagnosed with anaphylaxis by a health care provider licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13, 14, 17 or 25 or by a registered nurse practitioner licensed and certified pursuant to title 32, chapter 15 to carry and self-administer emergency medications, including epinephrine auto‑injectors, while at school and at school‑sponsored activities.  The pupil's name on the prescription label on the medication container or on the medication device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian to the school that authorizes possession and self-administration is sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to the possession and self‑administration of the medication.  The policies shall require a pupil who uses an epinephrine auto‑injector while at school and at school‑sponsored activities to notify the nurse or the designated school staff person of the use of the medication as soon as practicable.  A school district and its employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on good faith implementation of the requirements of this subdivision, except in cases of wanton or wilful neglect.

(b)  For the emergency administration of epinephrine auto‑injectors by a trained employee of a school district pursuant to section 15‑157.

35.  Allow the possession and self-administration of prescription medication for breathing disorders in handheld inhaler devices by pupils who have been prescribed that medication by a health care professional licensed pursuant to title 32.  The pupil's name on the prescription label on the medication container or on the handheld inhaler device and annual written documentation from the pupil's parent or guardian to the school that authorizes possession and self-administration shall be sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to the possession and self‑administration of the medication.  A school district and its employees are immune from civil liability with respect to all decisions made and actions taken that are based on a good faith implementation of the requirements of this paragraph.

36.  Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating and bullying other pupils on school grounds, on school property, on school buses, at school bus stops, at school‑sponsored events and activities and through the use of electronic technology or electronic communication on school computers, networks, forums and mailing lists that include the following components:

(a)  A procedure for pupils, parents and school district employees to confidentially report to school officials incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.  The school shall make available written forms designed to provide a full and detailed description of the incident and any other relevant information about the incident.

(b)  A requirement that school district employees report in writing suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying to the appropriate school official and a description of appropriate disciplinary procedures for employees who fail to report suspected incidents that are known to the employee.

(c)  A requirement that, at the beginning of each school year, school officials provide all pupils with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to a pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this paragraph.

(d)  If an incident is reported pursuant to this paragraph, a requirement that school officials provide a pupil who is an alleged victim of the incident with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil.

(e)  A formal process for the documentation of reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and for the confidentiality, maintenance and disposition of this documentation.  School districts shall maintain documentation of all incidents reported pursuant to this paragraph for at least six years.  The school shall not use that documentation to impose disciplinary action unless the appropriate school official has investigated and determined that the reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred.  If a school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, all individually identifiable information shall be redacted.

(f)  A formal process for the investigation by the appropriate school officials of suspected incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures for notifying the alleged victim on completion and disposition of the investigation.

(g)  Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted or been found to have committed incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(h)  A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting false reports of incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying.

(i)  Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically harmed as the result of incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying, including, if appropriate, procedures to contact emergency medical services or law enforcement agencies, or both.

(j)  Definitions of harassment, intimidation and bullying.

37.  Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures regarding changing or adopting attendance boundaries that include the following components:

(a)  A procedure for holding public meetings to discuss attendance boundary changes or adoptions that allows public comments.

(b)  A procedure to notify the parents or guardians of the students affected.

(c)  A procedure to notify the residents of the households affected by the attendance boundary changes.

(d)  A process for placing public meeting notices and proposed maps on the school district's website for public review, if the school district maintains a website.

(e)  A formal process for presenting the attendance boundaries of the affected area in public meetings that allows public comments.

(f)  A formal process for notifying the residents and parents or guardians of the affected area as to the decision of the governing board on the school district's website, if the school district maintains a website.

(g)  A formal process for updating attendance boundaries on the school district's website within ninety days of an adopted boundary change.  The school district shall send a direct link to the school district's attendance boundaries website to the department of real estate.

38.  If the state board of education determines that the school district has committed an overexpenditure as defined in section 15‑107, provide a copy of the fiscal management report submitted pursuant to section 15‑107, subsection H on its website and make copies available to the public on request.  The school district shall comply with a request within five business days after receipt.

39.  Ensure that the contract for the superintendent is structured in a manner in which up to twenty percent of the total annual salary included for the superintendent in the contract is classified as performance pay.  This paragraph shall does not be construed to require school districts to increase total compensation for superintendents.  Unless the school district governing board votes to implement an alternative procedure at a public meeting called for this purpose, the performance pay portion of the superintendent's total annual compensation shall be determined as follows:

(a)  Twenty‑five percent of the performance pay shall be determined based on the percentage of academic gain determined by the department of education of pupils who are enrolled in the school district compared to the academic gain achieved by the highest ranking of the fifty largest school districts in this state.  For the purposes of this subdivision, the department of education shall determine academic gain by the academic growth achieved by each pupil who has been enrolled at the same school in a school district for at least five consecutive months measured against that pupil's academic results in the 2008‑2009 school year.  For the purposes of this subdivision, of the fifty largest school districts in this state, the school district with pupils who demonstrate the highest statewide percentage of overall academic gain measured against academic results for the 2008‑2009 school year shall be assigned a score of 100 and the school district with pupils who demonstrate the lowest statewide percentage of overall academic gain measured against academic results for the 2008‑2009 school year shall be assigned a score of 0.

(b)  Twenty‑five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by the percentage of parents of pupils who are enrolled at the school district who assign a letter grade of "A" to the school on a survey of parental satisfaction with the school district.  The parental satisfaction survey shall be administered and scored by an independent entity that is selected by the governing board and that demonstrates sufficient expertise and experience to accurately measure the results of the survey.  The parental satisfaction survey shall use standard random sampling procedures and provide anonymity and confidentiality to each parent who participates in the survey.  The letter grade scale used on the parental satisfaction survey shall direct parents to assign one of the following letter grades:

(i)  A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.

(ii)  A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.

(iii)  A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.

(iv)  A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.

(v)  A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.

(c)  Twenty‑five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by the percentage of teachers who are employed at the school district and who assign a letter grade of "A" to the school on a survey of teacher satisfaction with the school.  The teacher satisfaction survey shall be administered and scored by an independent entity that is selected by the governing board and that demonstrates sufficient expertise and experience to accurately measure the results of the survey.  The teacher satisfaction survey shall use standard random sampling procedures and provide anonymity and confidentiality to each teacher who participates in the survey.  The letter grade scale used on the teacher satisfaction survey shall direct teachers to assign one of the following letter grades:

(i)  A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.

(ii)  A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.

(iii)  A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.

(iv)  A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.

(v)  A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.

(d)  Twenty‑five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by other criteria selected by the governing board.

40.  Maintain and store permanent public records of the school district as required by law.  Notwithstanding section 39‑101, the standards adopted by the Arizona state library, archives and public records for the maintenance and storage of school district public records shall allow school districts to elect to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph by maintaining and storing these records either on paper or in an electronic format, or a combination of a paper and electronic format.

41.  Adopt in a public meeting and implement by school year 2013‑2014 policies for principal evaluations.  Before the adoption of principal evaluation policies, the school district governing board shall provide opportunities for public discussion on the proposed policies.  The policies shall describe:

(a)  The principal evaluation instrument, including the four performance classifications adopted by the governing board pursuant to section 15‑203, subsection A, paragraph 38.

(b)  Alignment of professional development opportunities to the principal evaluations.

(c)  Incentives for principals in one of the two highest performance classifications pursuant to section 15‑203, subsection A, paragraph 38, which may include:

(i)  Multiyear contracts pursuant to section 15‑503.

(ii)  Incentives to work at schools that are assigned a letter grade of D or F pursuant to section 15‑241.

(d)  Transfer and contract processes for principals designated in the lowest performance classification pursuant to section 15‑203, subsection A, paragraph 38.

42.  Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures that define the duties of principals and teachers.  These policies and procedures shall authorize teachers to take and maintain daily classroom attendance, make the decision to promote or retain a pupil in a grade in common school or to pass or fail a pupil in a course in high school, subject to review by the governing board in the manner provided in section 15‑342, paragraph 11.

43.  Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures for the emergency administration by an employee of a school district pursuant to section 36‑2267 of naloxone hydrochloride or any other opioid antagonist approved by the United States food and drug administration.

B.  Notwithstanding subsection A, paragraphs 7, 9 and 11 of this section, the county school superintendent may construct, improve and furnish school buildings or purchase or sell school sites in the conduct of an accommodation school.

C.  If any school district acquires real or personal property, whether by purchase, exchange, condemnation, gift or otherwise, the governing board shall pay to the county treasurer any taxes on the property that were unpaid as of the date of acquisition, including penalties and interest.  The lien for unpaid delinquent taxes, penalties and interest on property acquired by a school district:

1.  Is not abated, extinguished, discharged or merged in the title to the property.

2.  Is enforceable in the same manner as other delinquent tax liens.

D.  The governing board may not locate a school on property that is less than one‑fourth mile from agricultural land regulated pursuant to section 3‑365, except that the owner of the agricultural land may agree to comply with the buffer zone requirements of section 3‑365.  If the owner agrees in writing to comply with the buffer zone requirements and records the agreement in the office of the county recorder as a restrictive covenant running with the title to the land, the school district may locate a school within the affected buffer zone.  The agreement may include any stipulations regarding the school, including conditions for future expansion of the school and changes in the operational status of the school that will result in a breach of the agreement.

E.  A school district, its governing board members, its school council members and its employees are immune from civil liability for the consequences of adoption and implementation of policies and procedures pursuant to subsection A of this section and section 15‑342.  This waiver does not apply if the school district, its governing board members, its school council members or its employees are guilty of gross negligence or intentional misconduct.

F.  A governing board may delegate in writing to a superintendent, principal or head teacher the authority to prescribe procedures that are consistent with the governing board's policies.

G.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, a school district governing board shall not take any action that would result in a reduction of pupil square footage unless the governing board notifies the school facilities board established by section 15‑2001 of the proposed action and receives written approval from the school facilities board to take the action.  A reduction includes an increase in administrative space that results in a reduction of pupil square footage or sale of school sites or buildings, or both.  A reduction includes a reconfiguration of grades that results in a reduction of pupil square footage of any grade level.  This subsection does not apply to temporary reconfiguration of grades to accommodate new school construction if the temporary reconfiguration does not exceed one year.  The sale of equipment that results in a reduction that falls below the equipment requirements prescribed in section 15‑2011, subsection B is subject to commensurate withholding of school district district additional assistance monies pursuant to the direction of the school facilities board.  Except as provided in section 15‑342, paragraph 10, proceeds from the sale of school sites, buildings or other equipment shall be deposited in the school plant fund as provided in section 15‑1102.

H.  Subsections C through G of this section apply to a county board of supervisors and a county school superintendent when operating and administering an accommodation school.

I.  A school district governing board may delegate authority in writing to the superintendent of the school district to submit plans for new school facilities to the school facilities board for the purpose of certifYING that the plans meet the minimum school facility adequacy guidelines prescribed in section 15‑2011. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Section 15-2001, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-2001.  School facilities board; conflict of interest; violation; classification; change orders; notification

A.  The school facilities board is established consisting of the following members who shall be appointed by the governor pursuant to section 38‑211 in such a manner as to provide for approximate geographic balance and approximate balance between public and private members:

1.  One member who is an elected member of a school district governing board with knowledge and experience in the area of finance.

2.  One private citizen who represents an organization of taxpayers.

3.  One member with knowledge and experience in school construction.

4.  One member who is a registered professional architect and who has current knowledge and experience in school architecture.

5.  One member with knowledge and experience in school facilities management in a public school system.

6.  One member with knowledge and experience in demographics.

7.  One member who is a teacher and who currently provides classroom instruction.

8.  One member who is a registered professional engineer and who has current knowledge and experience in school engineering.

9.  One member who is an owner or officer of a private business.

B.  In addition to the members appointed pursuant to subsection A of this section, the superintendent of public instruction or the superintendent's designee shall serve as an advisory nonvoting member of the school facilities board.

C.  The governor shall appoint a chairperson from members appointed pursuant to subsection A of this section.

D.  Members of the school facilities board serve four year terms.  The school facilities board shall meet as often as the members deem necessary. A majority of the members constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business.

E.  The unexcused absence of a member for more than three consecutive meetings is justification for removal by a majority vote of the board.  If the member is removed, notice shall be given of the removal pursuant to section 38‑292.

F.  The governor shall fill a vacancy by appointment of a qualified person as provided in subsection A of this section.

G.  Members of the board who are employed by government entities are not eligible to receive compensation.  Members of the board who are not employed by government entities are entitled to payment of one hundred fifty dollars for each meeting attended, prorated for partial days spent for each meeting, up to two thousand five hundred dollars each year.  All members are eligible for reimbursement of expenses pursuant to title 38, chapter 4, article 2.  These expenses and the payment of compensation are payable to a member from monies appropriated to the board from the new school facilities fund.

H.  Members and employees of the school facilities board are subject to title 38, chapter 3, article 8.  

i.  IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENTS PRESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION H of this section, EMPLOYEES OF THE SCHOOL FACILITIES BOARD MAY NOT HAVE A DIRECT OR INDIRECT FINANCIAL INTEREST IN ANY PROPERTY PURCHASED, FACILITY CONSTRUCTED OR CONTRACT FINANCED WITH MONIES MADE AVAILABLE BY THE BOARD OR ANY OTHER PUBLIC MONIES.  A PERSON WHO knowingly VIOLATES THIS SUBSECTION IS GUILTY OF A CLASS 1 MISDEMEANOR.

J.  The school facilities board shall establish policies and procedures relating to building renewal grant change orders that include the following:

1.  The board shall approve or reject a change order within two business days.

2.  If a school district approves work referenced in a change order before the board approves the change order, the school district is responsible for the cost and construction of the project.

K.  The school FACILITIES board shall establish policies and procedures to ensure that IT NOTIFIES school districts in a uniform manner and at least annually of the services and funding that are available from the board for facility construction, renovation and repair projects.  The board shall UPDATE and POST this information on its website ON OR BEFORE July 1 of each year.

L.  The school FACILITIES board shall establish and maintain a list of the persons who are responsible for FACILITIES MANAGEMENT at each school district in this state.  a school district shall promptly notify the board of any change to PERSONS who are responsible for FACILITIES MANAGEMENT at that school district.  The board shall UPDATE AND POST this information on its website ON OR BEFORE July 1 of each year. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3.  Section 15-2002, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-2002.  Powers and duties; executive director; staffing; report

A.  The school facilities board shall:

1.  Make assessments of school facilities and equipment deficiencies and approve the distribution of grants as appropriate.

2.  Maintain a database of school facilities to administer the building renewal grant fund and new school facilities formula.  The facilities listed in the database must include all buildings that are owned by school districts.  The school facilities board shall ensure that the database is updated on at least an annual basis.  Each school district shall report to the school facilities board no later than September 1 of each year information as required by the school facilities board for the administration of the building renewal grant fund and computation of new school facilities formula distributions, including the nature and cost of major repairs, renovations or physical improvements to or replacement of building systems or equipment that were made in the previous year and that were paid for either with local monies or monies provided by the school facilities board from the building renewal grant fund.  Each school district shall report any school or school buildings that have been closed, that have been leased to another entity or that operate as a charter school.  The school facilities board may review or audit the information, or both, to confirm the information submitted by a school district.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, if a school district converts space that is listed in the database maintained pursuant to this paragraph to space that will be used for administrative purposes, the school district is responsible for any costs associated with the conversion, maintenance and replacement of that space.  If a building is significantly upgraded or remodeled, the school facilities board shall adjust the age of that school facility in the database as follows:

(a)  Determine the building capacity value as follows:

(i)  Multiply the student capacity of the building by the per pupil square foot capacity established by section 15‑2041.

(ii)  Multiply the product determined in item (i) of this subdivision by the cost per square foot established by section 15‑2041.

(b)  Divide the cost of the renovation by the building capacity value determined in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

(c)  Multiply the quotient determined in subdivision (b) of this paragraph by the currently listed age of the building in the database.

(d)  Subtract the product determined in subdivision (c) of this paragraph from the currently listed age of the building in the database, rounded to the nearest whole number.  If the result is a negative number, use zero.

3.  Inspect school buildings at least once every five years to ensure compliance with the building adequacy standards prescribed in section 15‑2011 and routine preventative preventive maintenance guidelines as prescribed in this section with respect to construction of new buildings and maintenance of existing buildings.  The school facilities board shall randomly select twenty school districts every thirty months and inspect them pursuant to this paragraph.

4.  Review and approve student population projections submitted by school districts to determine to what extent school districts are entitled to monies to construct new facilities pursuant to section 15‑2041.  The board shall make a final determination within five months after the receipt of an application by a school district for monies from the new school facilities fund.

5.  Certify that plans for new school facilities meet the building adequacy standards prescribed in section 15‑2011.

6.  Develop prototypical elementary and high school designs.  The board shall review the design differences between the schools with the highest academic productivity scores and the schools with the lowest academic productivity scores.  The board shall also review the results of a valid and reliable survey of parent quality rating in the highest performing schools and the lowest performing schools in this state.  The survey of parent quality rating shall be administered by the department of education.  The board shall consider the design elements of the schools with the highest academic productivity scores and parent quality ratings in the development of elementary and high school designs.  The board shall develop separate school designs for elementary, middle and high schools with varying pupil capacities.

7.  Develop application forms, reporting forms and procedures to carry out the requirements of this article, including developing and implementing policies and procedures to:

(a)  Ensure that the board notifies SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN A UNIFORM MANNER OF the SERVICES AND funding AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS from THE BOARD FOR FACILITY CONSTRUCTION, RENOVATION AND REPAIR PROJECTS.  THE policies AND PROCEDURES SHALL require the board to provide AT LEAST ONE ANNUAL COMMUNICATION TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN A MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD AND shall require each school district to develop and maintain A LIST OF persons who are RESPONSIBLE FOR FACILITIES MANAGEMENT at that school district.

(b)  Establish A PROJECT ELIgiBILITY ASSESSMENT FOR ALL PROJECTS SUBMITTED FOR BUILDING RENEWAL GRANT FUNDING OR EMERGENCY DEFICIENCIES CORRECTION FUNDING, INCLUDING ESTABLISHING STANDARDIZED CRITERIA FOR PROJECT ELIGIBILITY.  Before the school facilities board formally approves a project, the staff of the board may review the costs and scope of the proposed project with persons and entities that have submitted bids on the project.

(c)  Ensure that THE BOARD MAINTAINS STANDARDIZED DOCUMENTATION OF ALL PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION TO RECEIVE SERVICES OR A FINANCIAL AWARD from THE BOARD. THE BOARD SHALL MAINTAIN STANDARDIZED DOCUMENTATION OF ANY PROJECT AWARDED MONIES BY THE BOARD, INCLUDING RECORDS OF PAYMENTS TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN A MANNER PRESCRIBED BY THE BOARD.  The standardized documentation shall include the following AS PART OF THE eligibility determination criteria:

(i)  wHETHER THE PROBLEM THAT THE PROPOSED PROJECT intends TO ADDRESS CAUSED THE BUILDING OR FACILITY TO FALL BELOW THE MINIMUM school facility ADEQUACY GUIDELINES PRESCRIBED in section 15‑2011.

(ii)  wHETHER THE SCHOOL DISTRICT PERFORMED THE routine preventive MAINTENANCE required pursuant to section 15‑2032 ON THE BUILDING OR FACILITY.

(d)  Require a school district to submit contact information for each proposed project, including the name, e‑mail address and telephone number of persons who are responsible for FACILITIES MANAGEMENT at the school district.

(e)  Require a school district to provide JUSTIFICATION for each proposed project, including all of the following:

(i)  the school district's use or planned use of the facility.

(ii)  a detailed description of the problem and the school district's recommended solution.

(iii)  any completed professional study regarding the proposed project.

(iv)  any citation or report from government entities.

(v)  The estimated cost of the proposed project, with documentation.

(vi)  The project category.

(vii)  A description of any local funding that will be used for the proposed project if the school facilities board staff is available for the review within the time frame established by the school district.

(viii)  Documentation on associated insurance coverage, if applicable.

(f)  If the application is for monies from the building renewal grant fund established by section 15‑2032, require the school district to report the PREVENTIVE maintenance activities completed during the previous twelve months for the facility for which the monies are being requested.

(g)  Require that an INITIAL application not be considered complete until all necessary information is submitted.

(h)  Allow a school district to submit an incomplete application and request technical assistance from the staff of the board if the school district is UNABLE to provide sufficient information in the initial application.

(i)  Require that a complete application be received by the school facilities board at least fifteen BUSINESS days before the next regularly scheduled board meeting in order for the application to be considered at that meeting.  An incomplete application may be considered at that meeting if both the staff of the board and the superintendent of the school district deem the project critical.

(j)  Allow the staff of the board to notify a school district in writing before review by the board that the proposed project does not meet eligibility criteria prescribed in this chapter.  The written notification shall include documentation to support the staff's determination that the proposed project does not meet the eligibility criteria prescribed in this chapter.  The school district may directly appeal the staff's determination of ineligibility to the executive director of the board.  The school district may directly appeal the executive director's determination of ineligibility to the school facilities board.

(k)  Prohibit the staff of the board from requesting that a school district withdraw a project application from review by the board if the INITIAL staff review determines that the proposed project may be ineligible for monies from the board.

8.  Review and approve or reject requests submitted by school districts to take actions pursuant to section 15‑341, subsection G.

9.  Submit electronically an annual report on or before December 15 to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the superintendent of public instruction, the secretary of state and the governor that includes the following information:

(a)  A detailed description of the amount of monies distributed by the school facilities board in the previous fiscal year.

(b)  A list of each capital project that received monies from the school facilities board during the previous fiscal year, a brief description of each project that was funded and a summary of the board's reasons for the distribution of monies for the project.

(c)  A summary of the findings and conclusions of the building maintenance inspections conducted pursuant to this article during the previous fiscal year.

(d)  A summary of the findings of common design elements and characteristics of the highest performing schools and the lowest performing schools based on academic productivity, including the results of the parent quality rating survey.  For the purposes of this subdivision, "academic productivity" means academic year advancement per calendar year as measured with student‑level data using the statewide nationally standardized norm‑referenced achievement test.

10.  On or before December 1 of each year, report electronically to the joint committee on capital review the amounts necessary to fulfill the requirements of sections 15‑2022 and 15‑2041 for the following three fiscal years.  In developing the amounts necessary for this report, the school facilities board shall use the most recent average daily membership data available.  On request from the board, the department of education shall make available the most recent average daily membership data for use in calculating the amounts necessary to fulfill the requirements of section 15‑2041 for the following three fiscal years.  The board shall provide copies of the report to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and the governor.

11.  Adopt minimum school facility adequacy guidelines to provide the minimum quality and quantity of school buildings and the facilities and equipment necessary and appropriate to enable pupils to achieve the educational goals of the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind. The school facilities board shall establish minimum school facility adequacy guidelines applicable to the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind.

12.  In each even‑numbered year, report electronically to the joint committee on capital review the amounts necessary to fulfill the requirements of section 15‑2041 for the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind for the following two fiscal years.  The Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind shall incorporate the findings of the report in any request for new school facilities monies.  Any monies provided to the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind for new school facilities are subject to legislative appropriation.

13.  On or before June 15 of each year, submit electronically detailed information regarding demographic assumptions, a proposed construction schedule and new school construction cost estimates for individual projects approved in the current fiscal year and expected project approvals for the upcoming fiscal year to the joint committee on capital review for its review. A copy of the report shall also be submitted electronically to the governor's office of strategic planning and budgeting.  The joint legislative budget committee staff, the governor's office of strategic planning and budgeting staff and the school facilities board staff shall agree on the format of the report.

14.  Every two years, provide school districts with information on improving and maintaining the indoor environmental quality in school buildings.

15.  On or before December 31 of each year, report to the joint legislative budget committee on all class B bond approvals by school districts in that year.  Each school district shall report to the school facilities board on or before December 1 of each year information required by the school facilities board for the report prescribed in this paragraph.

16.  Validate proposed adjacent ways projects submitted by school districts as prescribed in section 15‑995.

B.  The school facilities board may contract for the following services in compliance with the procurement practices prescribed in title 41, chapter 23:

1.  Private services.

2.  Construction project management services.

3.  Assessments for school buildings to determine if the buildings have outlived their useful life pursuant to section 15‑2041, subsection G.

4.  Services related to land acquisition and development of a school site.

C.  The governor shall appoint an executive director of the school facilities board pursuant to section 38‑211.  The executive director is eligible to receive compensation as determined pursuant to section 38‑611 and may hire and fire necessary staff subject to title 41, chapter 4, article 4 and as approved by the legislature in the budget.  The executive director shall have demonstrated competency in school finance, facilities design or facilities management, either in private business or government service.  The executive director serves at the pleasure of the governor.  The staff of the school facilities board is exempt from title 41, chapter 4, articles 5 and 6. The executive director:

1.  Shall analyze applications for monies submitted to the board by school districts.

2.  Shall assist the board in developing forms and procedures for the distribution and review of applications and the distribution of monies to school districts.

3.  May review or audit, or both, the expenditure of monies by a school district for deficiencies corrections and new school facilities.

4.  Shall assist the board in the preparation of the board's annual report.

5.  Shall research and provide reports on issues of general interest to the board.

6.  May aid school districts in the development of reasonable and cost‑effective school designs in order to avoid statewide duplicated efforts and unwarranted expenditures in the area of school design.

7.  May assist school districts in facilitating the development of multijurisdictional facilities.

8.  Shall assist the board in any other appropriate matter or method as directed by the members of the board.

9.  Shall establish procedures to ensure compliance with the notice and hearing requirements prescribed in section 15‑905.  The notice and hearing procedures adopted by the board shall include the requirement, with respect to the board's consideration of any application filed after July 1, 2001 or after December 31 of the year in which the property becomes territory in the vicinity of a military airport or ancillary military facility as defined in section 28‑8461 for monies to fund the construction of new school facilities proposed to be located in territory in the vicinity of a military airport or ancillary military facility, that the military airport receive notification of the application by first class mail at least thirty days before any hearing concerning the application.

10.  May expedite any request for monies in which the local match was not obtained for a project that received preliminary approval by the state board for school capital facilities.

11.  Shall expedite any request for monies in which the school district governing board submits an application that shows an immediate need for a new school facility.

12.  Shall make a determination as to administrative completion within one month after the receipt of an application by a school district for monies from the new school facilities fund.

13.  Shall provide technical support to school districts as requested by school districts in connection with the construction of new school facilities and the maintenance of existing school facilities and may contract directly with construction project managers pursuant to subsection B of this section.  This paragraph does not restrict a school district from contracting with a construction project manager using district or state resources.

D.  When appropriate, the school facilities board shall review and use the statewide school facilities inventory and needs assessment conducted by the joint committee on capital review and issued in July, 1995.

E.  The school facilities board shall contract with one or more private building inspectors to complete an initial assessment of school facilities and equipment and shall inspect each school building in this state at least once every five years to ensure compliance with section 15‑2011.  A copy of the inspection report, together with any recommendations for building maintenance, shall be provided to the school facilities board and the governing board of the school district.

F.  The school facilities board may consider appropriate combinations of facilities or uses in making assessments of and curing deficiencies pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section and in certifying plans for new school facilities pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 5 of this section.

G.  The board shall not award any monies to fund new facilities that are financed by class A bonds that are issued by the school district.

H.  The board shall not distribute monies to a school district for replacement or repair of facilities if the costs associated with the replacement or repair are covered by insurance or a performance or payment bond.

I.  The board may contract for construction services and materials that are necessary to correct existing deficiencies in school district facilities.  The board may procure the construction services necessary pursuant to this subsection by any method, including construction‑manager‑at‑risk, design‑build, design‑bid‑build or job‑order‑contracting as provided by title 41, chapter 23.  The construction planning and services performed pursuant to this subsection are exempt from section 41‑791.01.

J.  The school facilities board may enter into agreements with school districts to allow school facilities board staff and contractors access to school property for the purposes of performing the construction services necessary pursuant to subsection I of this section.

K.  Each school district shall develop routine preventative preventive maintenance guidelines for its facilities.  The guidelines shall include plumbing systems, electrical systems, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, special equipment and other systems and for roofing systems shall recommend visual inspections performed by district staff for signs of structural stress and weakness.  The guidelines shall be submitted to the school facilities board for review and approval.  If on inspection by the school facilities board it is determined that a school district facility was inadequately maintained pursuant to the school district's routine preventative preventive maintenance guidelines, the school district shall return the building to compliance with the school district's routine preventative preventive maintenance guidelines.

L.  The school facilities board may temporarily transfer monies between the capital reserve fund established by section 15‑2003, the emergency deficiencies correction fund established by section 15‑2022 and the new school facilities fund established by section 15‑2041 if all of the following conditions are met:

1.  The transfer is necessary to avoid a temporary shortfall in the fund into which the monies are transferred.

2.  The transferred monies are restored to the fund where the monies originated as soon as practicable after the temporary shortfall in the other fund has been addressed.

3.  The school facilities board reports to the joint committee on capital review the amount of and the reason for any monies transferred.

M.  After notifying each school district, and if a written objection from the school district is not received by the school facilities board within thirty days of the notification, the school facilities board may access public utility company records of power, water, natural gas, telephone and broadband usage to assemble consistent and accurate data on utility consumption at school facilities to determine the effectiveness of facility design, operation and maintenance measures intended to reduce energy and water consumption and costs.  Any public utility that provides service to a school district in this state shall provide the data requested by the school facilities board pursuant to this subsection.

N.  The school facilities board shall not require a common school district that provides instruction to pupils in grade nine to obtain approval from the school facilities board to reconfigure its school facilities.  A common school district that provides instruction to pupils in grade nine is not entitled to additional monies from the school facilities board for facilities to educate pupils in grade nine.

O.  A school district may appeal the denial of a request for monies pursuant to this chapter or any other appealable agency action by the school facilities board pursuant to title 41, chapter 6, article 10.  For the purposes of this subsection, "appealable agency action" has the same meaning prescribed in section 41‑1092.

Sec. 4.  Section 15-2032, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-2032.  School facilities board; building renewal grant fund; definitions

A.  The building renewal grant fund is established consisting of monies appropriated to the fund by the legislature.  The school facilities board shall administer the fund and distribute monies to school districts for the purpose of maintaining the adequacy of existing school facilities.  Monies in the fund are exempt from the provisions of section 35‑190 relating to lapsing of appropriations.

B.  The school facilities board shall distribute monies from the fund based on grant requests from school districts to fund primary building renewal projects.  Project requests shall be prioritized by the school facilities board, with priority given to school districts that have provided routine preventative preventive maintenance on the facility, and to school districts that can provide a match of monies provided by the fund.  The school facilities board shall approve only projects that will be completed within twelve months, unless similar projects on average take longer to complete.

C.  School districts that receive monies from the fund shall use these monies on projects for buildings or any part of a building in the school facilities board's database for any of the following:

1.  Major renovations and repairs to a building that is used for student instruction or other academic purposes.

2.  Upgrading systems and areas that will maintain or extend the useful life of the building.

3.  Infrastructure costs.

D.  Monies received from the fund shall not be used for any of the following purposes:

1.  New construction.

2.  Remodeling interior space for aesthetic or preferential reasons.

3.  Exterior beautification.

4.  Demolition.

5.  Routine preventative preventive maintenance.

6.  Any project in a building, or part of a building, that is being leased to another entity.

E.  Accommodation schools are not eligible for monies from the building renewal grant fund.

F.  If the school facilities board or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that a school district received monies from the building renewal grant fund that must be reimbursed to the school facilities board due to legal action associated with improper construction by a hired contractor, the school district shall reimburse the school facilities board an agreed-on amount for deposit into the building renewal grant fund.

G.  The school facilities board shall categorize each project that is ELIGIBLE for monies from the building renewal grant fund as either critical or noncritical.  the board shall adopt policies and procedures to prioritize CRITICAL PROJECTS and to designate critical projects as projects that immediately impact student safety or building closures or that result in operational disruptions.

H.  If the school facilities board determines that sufficient monies are not available for a noncritical project that the board has approved, the board shall notify the school district that submitted the project request that monies will be distributed from the building RENEWAL grant fund for the project only if the legislature appropriates sufficient monies.

G.  I.  For the purposes of this section:

1.  "Primary building renewal projects" means projects that are necessary for buildings owned by school districts that are required to meet the minimum adequacy standards for student capacity and that fall below the minimum school facility adequacy guidelines, as adopted by the school facilities board pursuant to section 15‑2011, for school districts that have provided routine preventative preventive maintenance to the school facility.

2.  "Routine preventative preventive maintenance" means services that are performed on a regular schedule at intervals ranging from four times a year to once every three years, or on the schedule of services recommended by the manufacturer of the specific building system or equipment, and that are intended to extend the useful life of a building system and reduce the need for major repairs.

3.  "Student capacity" has the same meaning prescribed in section 15‑2011. END_STATUTE