Assigned to ED                                                                                                              AS PASSED BY HOUSE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session

AMENDED

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1368

continuation; Arizona board of regents

Purpose

Continues the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) for five years.

Background

The Arizona Constitution establishes ABOR to act as the governing body of Arizona's public university system (Ariz. Const. art. 11 § 5). ABOR may adopt, and authorize each university to adopt, regulations, policies or measures as necessary and delegate any part of its authority as prescribed. ABOR's duties include: 1) employing university presidents; 2) fixing tuition and fees according to an adopted process; 3) annually submitting a budget request and adopting an operating budget for each university; 4) establishing curricula that serve the state's interest; and
5) prescribing student admission qualifications, including guaranteed admission policies to ensure fair and equitable access to students in Arizona. ABOR consists of 10 Governor-appointed members, including two student members, and the Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction as ex officio members (A.R.S. §§ 15-1621 and 15-1626).

The House Education Committee of Reference and Senate Education Committee of Reference (COR) held a public meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, to review the performance audits prepared by the Office of the Auditor General, evaluate ABOR's responses to the sunset review factors and receive public testimony. The COR recommended that the Legislature continue ABOR for five years, until July 1, 2027 (COR Minutes). ABOR terminates on July 1, 2022, unless continued by the Legislature (A.R.S. § 41-3022.12).

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.

Provisions

1. Continues, retroactive to July 1, 2022, ABOR until July 1, 2027.

2. Repeals, subject to voter approval, ABOR on January 1, 2028.

3. Contains a purpose statement.

4. Becomes effective on the general effective date, with a retroactive provision as noted.

Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives

1. Reduces the ABOR continuation from eight years to five years.

2. Makes conforming changes.

Senate Action House Action

ED                   2/1/22        DP       8-0-0                   ED                   3/22/22      DPA     7-3-0-0

3^rd Read          2/23/22                  19-9-2                 3^rd Read          6/24/22                    35-17-8

Prepared by Senate Research

June 24, 2022

LB/KJA/slp