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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
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HB 2142: ADE; school safety; center; programs
Sponsor: Representative Gress, LD 4
Committee on Education
Overview
Creates the School Safety Center (Center) within the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and details the duties of the Center, which include administering the School Safety Program (Program).
History
Established within ADE, the Program supports the costs of: 1) placing school resource officers, juvenile probation officers, school safety officers, school counselors and school social workers on school campuses; and 2) purchasing safety technology, safety training and infrastructure improvements for school campuses. ADE, subject to review and approval by the State Board of Education, must distribute monies to participating school districts and charter schools that are in compliance with Program requirements (A.R.S. § 15-154).
A school district or charter school that receives Program monies must develop an emergency response plan and contract with a school safety assessment provider to conduct a school safety assessment every five years. ADE is required to compile a list of approved school safety assessment providers. Every three years, ADE must select a random sample of school districts and charter schools participating in the Program and conduct a safety assessment of the selected school districts and charter schools (A.R.S. § 15-154.02).
A school district governing board and the charter of a charter school must ensure that an emergency response plan is developed for each school in conjunction with local law enforcement and emergency response agencies and in accordance with the minimum standards developed by ADE and the Department of Emergency and Military Affairs. The plan must address how the school and emergency responders will communicate with and assist students with disabilities (A.R.S. §§ 15-183 and 15-341).
Provisions
1. Establishes the Center within ADE that must:
a. use school safety subject matter expertise to identify best practices for enhancing schools safety;
b. provide statewide training and professional development to school safety personnel;
c. administer the Program;
d. provide technical assistance to school districts and charter schools for the development of Program proposals and emergency response plans;
e. research and evaluate school safety programs, initiatives and outcomes;
f. conduct school safety risk assessments; and
g. adopt guidelines for threat prevention, vulnerability mitigation and physical campus security planning. (Sec. 4)
2. Specifies the Center may offer specific recommendations to a school based on the findings of a risk assessment that is conducted. (Sec. 4)
3. Places the Program within the Center and tasks the Center with administering the Program. (Sec. 1)
4. Authorizes the Center to use up to 10% of monies appropriated for the Program annually for Program administration costs. (Sec. 1)
5. Specifies the Center, rather than more generally ADE, must:
a. compile a list of approved school safety assessment providers; and
b. select, every three years, a random sample of school districts and charter schools participating in the Program and conduct a safety assessment of the selected school districts and charter schools. (Sec. 2)
6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2, 3)
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10. Initials CH HB 2142
11. 1/9/2026 Page 0 Education
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