ARIZONA STATE SENATE

SYDNEY MARAVILLAS

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH INTERN

MASON HOLLER

LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH ANALYST

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Telephone: (602) 926-3171

RESEARCH STAFF

TO:                  MEMBERS OF THE SENATE

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

DATE:            March 23, 2026

SUBJECT:      Strike everything amendment to H.B. 2376, relating to school safety

Purpose

Appropriates $40,000,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2027 to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) for the School Safety Program (Program). Directs ADE to prioritize distributions of the appropriated monies for Program proposals for school resource officers (SROs) or school safety officers (SSOs). 

Background

The Program supports, promotes and enhances safe and effective learning environments for all students by supporting the costs of placing SROs, juvenile probation officers (JPOs), SSOs, school counselors and school social workers on school campuses. A school district or charter school may apply to participate in the Program for up to three fiscal years by submitting a Program proposal that contains specified information to ADE. ADE must review and administer the Program proposals and, subject to review and approval by the State Board of Education (SBE), distribute monies to the school districts and charter schools that comply with Program requirements. ADE may prioritize Program proposals for SRO, JPO and SSO grants to schools that have agreements to share the cost of the SRO, JPO or SSO with a law enforcement agency or the courts. If the SBE approves a school district's or charter school's Program proposal and the school district or charter school cannot place one or more of the SROs, JPOs, SSOs, school counselors or social workers included in the approved Program proposal, the school district or charter school may submit an alternate Program proposal as outlined for supporting the costs of purchasing safety technology, safety training and infrastructure improvements for its school campuses (A.R.S. § 15-154).

H.B. 2376 appropriates $40,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADE.

Provisions

1. Appropriates $40,000,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADE for the Program.

2. Specifies that ADE must distribute the appropriated monies as statutorily prescribed for the Program, except that ADE must prioritize distributions for approved Program proposals for SROs or SSOs.

3. Declares the Legislature's intent that the appropriation to ADE for the Program be considered ongoing funding in future years.

4. Becomes effective on the general effective date.