Arizona 2022 Regular Session

Arizona Senate Bill SB1510 Compare Versions

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11 REFERENCE TITLE: schools; bullying policy; definition State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session 2022 SB 1510 Introduced by Senator Bowie AN ACT amending section 15-101, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 15, chapter 1, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-186.02; amending section 15-341, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to student conduct. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
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6666 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Section 15-101, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read: START_STATUTE15-101. Definitions In this title, unless the context otherwise requires: 1. "Accommodation school" means either: (a) A school that is operated through the county board of supervisors and the county school superintendent and that the county school superintendent administers to serve a military reservation or territory that is not included within the boundaries of a school district. (b) A school that provides educational services to homeless children or alternative education programs as provided in section 15-308, subsection B. (c) A school that is established to serve a military reservation, the boundaries of which are coterminous with the boundaries of the military reservation on which the school is located. 2. "Assessed valuation" means the valuation derived by applying the applicable percentage as provided in title 42, chapter 15, article 1 to the full cash value or limited property value, whichever is applicable, of the property. 3. "Bullying": (a) Means a written, verbal or physical act or an electronic communication that is intended to harm or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm one or more students by doing any of the following: (i) Substantially interfering with the student's educational opportunities, benefits or programs. (ii) Adversely affecting the student's ability to participate in or benefit from educational programs or activities by placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress. (iii) Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on the student's physical or mental health. (iv) Causing a substantial disruption in or substantial interference with the orderly operation of a school. (b) Includes conduct based on any of the following: (i) A student's actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or religion. (ii) Other distinguishing characteristics of a student that may be defined by a state or local education agency. (iii) A student's Association with a person or group with one or more of the actual or perceived characteristics listed in items (i) and (ii) of this subdivision. 3. 4. "Charter holder" means a person that enters into a charter with the state board for charter schools. For the purposes of this paragraph, "person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association or public or private organization of any kind. 4. 5. "Charter school" means a public school established by contract with the state board of education, the state board for charter schools, a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents, a community college district or a group of community college districts pursuant to article 8 of this chapter to provide learning that will improve pupil student achievement. 5. 6. "Child with a disability" means a child with a disability as defined in section 15-761. 6. 7. "Class A bonds" means general obligation bonds approved by a vote of the qualified electors of a school district at an election held on or before December 31, 1998. 7. 8. "Class B bonds" means general obligation bonds approved by a vote of the qualified electors of a school district at an election held from and after December 31, 1998. 8. 9. "Competency" means a demonstrated ability in a skill at a specified performance level. 9. 10. "Course" means organized subject matter in which instruction is offered within a given period of time and for which credit toward promotion, graduation or certification is usually given. A course consists of knowledge selected from a subject for instructional purposes in the schools. 10. 11. "Course of study" means a list of required and optional subjects to be taught in the schools. 11. 12. "Dual enrollment course" means a college-level course that is conducted on the campus of a high school or on the campus of a career technical education district, that is applicable to an established community college academic degree or certificate program and that is transferable to a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents. A dual enrollment course that is applicable to a community college occupational degree or certificate program may be transferable to a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents. 12. 13. "Elementary grades" means kindergarten programs and grades one through eight. 13. 14. "Fiscal year" means the year beginning July 1 and ending June 30. 14. 15. "Governing board" means a body organized for the government to govern and management of manage the schools within a school district or a county school superintendent in the conduct of conducting an accommodation school. 15. 16. "Lease" means an agreement for conveyance conveying and possession of possessing real or personal property. 16. 17. "Limited property value" means the value determined pursuant to title 42, chapter 13, article 7. Limited property value shall be that is used as the basis for assessing, fixing, determining and levying primary property taxes. 17. 18. "Nontest" means not relating to knowledge or skills in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, science or any other course. 18. 19. "Parent" means the natural or adoptive parent of a child or a person who has custody of a child. 19. 20. "Person who has custody" means a parent or legal guardian of a child, a person to whom custody of the child has been given by order of a court or a person who stands in loco parentis to the child. 20. 21. "Primary property taxes" means all ad valorem taxes except for secondary property taxes. 21. 22. "Private school" means a nonpublic institution where instruction is imparted. 22. 23. "School" or "public school" means any public institution established for the purposes of offering instruction to pupils students in programs for preschool children with disabilities, kindergarten programs or any combination of elementary grades or secondary grades one through twelve. 23. 24. "School district" means a political subdivision of this state with geographic boundaries that is organized for the purpose of the administration to administer, support and maintenance of maintain the public schools or an accommodation school. 24. 25. "Secondary grades" means grades nine through twelve. 25. 26. "Secondary property taxes" means ad valorem taxes used to pay the principal of and the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness or other lawful long-term obligation issued or incurred for a specific purpose by a school district or a community college district and amounts levied pursuant to an election to exceed a budget, expenditure or tax limitation. 26. 27. "Subject" means a division or field of organized knowledge, such as English or mathematics, or a selection from an organized body of knowledge for a course or teaching unit, such as the English novel or elementary algebra. END_STATUTE Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter 1, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-186.02, to read: START_STATUTE15-186.02. Bullying policies and procedures Each charter school governing body shall prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating and bullying other pupils. These policies may include a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation and bullying at any off-campus location or activity if the alleged activity is reported to school officials and if the harassment, intimidation or bullying creates a hostile environment for the alleged victim at school, infringes on the rights of the alleged victim at school or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of the school. These policies and procedures shall include all of the following: 1. A policy that prohibits Harassment, intimidation and bullying through the use of electronic technology and electronic communications on school grounds, on school property, on school buses, at school bus stops, at school-sponsored events and on school computers, networks, forums and mailing lists. 2. A statement that all pupils are protected under these policies and that bullying is prohibited without regard to the subject matter of the bullying or the motivation of the perpetrator. 3. A procedure for pupils, parents and charter school employees to confidentially report to school officials incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying. The charter 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. 4. A requirement that charter school 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. 5. 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 each pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this section. 6. If an incident is reported pursuant to this section, a requirement that school officials, in compliance with state rules and federal regulations adopted to comply with the family educational rights and privacy act of 1974 (P.L. 93-380; 88 Stat. 57), notify the alleged victim's parent or guardian of the incident and provide the alleged victim with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil. To avoid additional negative consequences to the alleged victim's health and well-being and before notifying the alleged victim's parent, school officials, in consultation with on-site school counselors and social workers, if available, shall evaluate the notification in the same manner as any other educationally relevant decision by considering the health, well-being and safety of any pupil involved in the incident. School officials shall notify the parent or guardian of a pupil who is the alleged perpetrator pursuant to the charter school's disciplinary notification policies and procedures. 7. A formal process for documenting reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and providing for the confidentiality, maintenance and disposition of this documentation. Charter Schools shall maintain documentation of all incidents reported pursuant to this section for at least six years. The charter school shall not use that documentation to impose disciplinary action unless the appropriate school official has investigated and determined that a reported incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred. If a charter school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, the charter school shall redact all individually identifiable information. 8. A formal process for the appropriate school officials to investigate a suspected incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures to timely notify the alleged victim and the alleged victim's parent or guardian when a school official or employee becomes aware of the suspected incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying. 9. Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted committing or have been found to have committed an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying. 10. A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting a false report of an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying. 11. Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically or emotionally harmed, or both, as the result of an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including, if appropriate, procedures to contact emergency medical services or law enforcement agencies, or both. 12. The same definition of bullying prescribed in section 15-101. END_STATUTE Sec. 3. 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 to govern 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 does not prohibit the elective course permitted allowed by section 15-717.01. 3. Manage and control the school property within its district, except that a district may enter into a partnership with an entity, including a charter school, another school district or a military base, to operate a school or offer educational services in a district building, including at a vacant or partially used building, or in any building on the entity's property pursuant to a written agreement between the parties. 4. Acquire school furniture, apparatus, equipment, library books and supplies for the schools to use. 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. In the name of the district, convey 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 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 does not 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 to pay salaries of teachers and other employees and contingent expenses of the district. 18. Annually 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 report 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 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 and that the pupil's parent or guardian be notified. 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 evaluating and management of managing 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. (c) Guidelines, information and forms that are developed in consultation with a statewide private entity that supervises interscholastic activities to inform and educate coaches, pupils and parents of the dangers of heat-related illnesses, sudden cardiac death and prescription opioid use. Before a pupil participates in any district-sponsored practice session or game or other interscholastic athletic activity, the pupil and the pupil's parent must be provided with information at least once each school year on the risks of heat-related illnesses, sudden cardiac death and prescription opioid addiction. 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 does not 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 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 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 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 division of school facilities within the department of administration for technical assistance and for information on the impact of closing a school. The information provided from the division of school facilities within the department of administration 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 possess and self-administration of self-administer 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 is sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to the possession possess and self-administration of self-administer 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. These policies may include a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation and bullying at any off-campus location or activity if the alleged activity is reported to school officials and if the harassment, intimidation or bullying creates a hostile environment for the alleged victim at school, infringes on the rights of the alleged victim at school or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of the school. These policies and procedures shall include all of the following: (a) A policy that prohibits harassment, intimidation and bullying through the use of electronic technology and electronic communications 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: (b) A statement that all pupils are protected under these policies and that bullying is prohibited without regard to the subject matter of the bullying or the motivation of the perpetrator. (a) (c) 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) (d) 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) (e) 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 each pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this paragraph. (d) (f) If an incident is reported pursuant to this paragraph, a requirement that school officials, provide a pupil who is an in compliance with state rules and federal regulations adopted to comply with the family educational rights and privacy act of 1974 (P.L. 93-380; 88 Stat. 57), notify the alleged victim's parent or guardian of the incident and provide the alleged victim of the incident with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil. To avoid additional negative consequences to the alleged victim's health and well-being and before notifying the alleged victim's parent, school officials, in consultation with on-site school counselors and social workers, if available, shall evaluate the notification in the same manner as any other educationally relevant decision by considering the health, well-being and safety of any pupil involved in the incident. School officials shall notify the parent or guardian of a pupil who is the alleged perpetrator pursuant to the school district's disciplinary notification policies and procedures. (e) (g) A formal process for documenting reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and providing 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 a reported incidents incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred. If a school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, the school shall redact all individually identifiable information shall be redacted. (f) (h) A formal process for the appropriate school officials to investigate a suspected incidents incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures for notifying to timely notify the alleged victim and the alleged victim's parent or guardian when a school official or employee becomes aware of the suspected incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying. (g) (i) Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted committing or have been found to have committed incidents an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying. (h) (j) A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting a false reports report of incidents an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying. (i) (k) Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically or EMOTIONALLY harmed, or both, as the result of incidents an incident 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. (l) The same definition of bullying prescribed in section 15-101. 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, including assurance that, if that school remains open as part of the boundary change and capacity is available, students assigned to a new attendance area may stay enrolled in their current school. (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 after 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 does not 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 policies for principal evaluations. Before adopting principal evaluation policies, the school district governing board shall provide opportunities for public discussion on the proposed policies. The governing board shall adopt policies that: (a) Are designed to improve principal performance and improve student achievement. (b) Include the use of quantitative data on the academic progress for all students, which shall account for between twenty percent and thirty-three percent of the evaluation outcomes. (c) Include four performance classifications, designated as highly effective, effective, developing and ineffective. (d) Describe both of the following: (i) The methods used to evaluate the performance of principals, including the data used to measure student performance and job effectiveness. (ii) The formula used to determine evaluation outcomes. 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. 44. In addition to the notification requirements prescribed in paragraph 36 of this subsection, prescribe and enforce reasonable and appropriate policies to notify a pupil's parent or guardian if any person engages in harassing, threatening or intimidating conduct against that pupil. A school district and its officials and 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 paragraph, except in cases of gross negligence or wanton or wilful neglect. A person engages in threatening or intimidating if the person threatens or intimidates by word or conduct to cause physical injury to another person or serious damage to the property of another on school grounds. A person engages in harassment if, with intent to harass or with knowledge that the person is harassing another person, the person anonymously or otherwise contacts, communicates or causes a communication with another person by verbal, electronic, mechanical, telephonic or written means in a manner that harasses on school grounds or substantially disrupts the school environment. 45. Each fiscal year, provide to each school district employee a total compensation statement that is broken down by category of benefit or payment and that includes, for that employee, at least all of the following: (a) Base salary and any additional pay. (b) Medical benefits and the value of any employer-paid portions of insurance plan premiums. (c) Retirement benefit plans, including social security. (d) Legally required benefits. (e) Any paid leave. (f) Any other payment made to or on behalf of the employee. (g) Any other benefit provided to the employee. 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 adopting and implementation of implementing 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 oversight board established by section 41-5701.02 of the proposed action and receives written approval from the school facilities oversight 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 41-5711, subsection B is subject to commensurate withholding of school district district additional assistance monies pursuant to the direction of the school facilities oversight 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 oversight board for the purpose of certifying that the plans meet the minimum school facility adequacy guidelines prescribed in section 41-5711. J. For the purposes of subsection A, paragraph 37 of this section, attendance boundaries may not be used to require students to attend certain schools based on the student's place of residence. END_STATUTE Sec. 4. Intent The legislature finds and declares that: 1. All students have the right to participate fully in the educational process and to be free from harassment, intimidation and bullying. 2. A safe and civil environment in school is necessary for students to learn and to achieve high academic standards. 3. Harassment, intimidation and bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, are forms of conduct that disrupt both a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its students in a safe environment. 4. Staff and volunteers should be expected to demonstrate appropriate behavior, treat others with civility and respect and refuse to tolerate bullying, intimidation and harassment. Sec. 5. Short title This act may be cited as the "Arizona Safe Schools Act of 2022".
6767
6868 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
6969
7070 Section 1. Section 15-101, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
7171
7272 START_STATUTE15-101. Definitions
7373
7474 In this title, unless the context otherwise requires:
7575
7676 1. "Accommodation school" means either:
7777
7878 (a) A school that is operated through the county board of supervisors and the county school superintendent and that the county school superintendent administers to serve a military reservation or territory that is not included within the boundaries of a school district.
7979
8080 (b) A school that provides educational services to homeless children or alternative education programs as provided in section 15-308, subsection B.
8181
8282 (c) A school that is established to serve a military reservation, the boundaries of which are coterminous with the boundaries of the military reservation on which the school is located.
8383
8484 2. "Assessed valuation" means the valuation derived by applying the applicable percentage as provided in title 42, chapter 15, article 1 to the full cash value or limited property value, whichever is applicable, of the property.
8585
8686 3. "Bullying":
8787
8888 (a) Means a written, verbal or physical act or an electronic communication that is intended to harm or that a reasonable person would know is likely to harm one or more students by doing any of the following:
8989
9090 (i) Substantially interfering with the student's educational opportunities, benefits or programs.
9191
9292 (ii) Adversely affecting the student's ability to participate in or benefit from educational programs or activities by placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.
9393
9494 (iii) Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on the student's physical or mental health.
9595
9696 (iv) Causing a substantial disruption in or substantial interference with the orderly operation of a school.
9797
9898 (b) Includes conduct based on any of the following:
9999
100100 (i) A student's actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity or religion.
101101
102102 (ii) Other distinguishing characteristics of a student that may be defined by a state or local education agency.
103103
104104 (iii) A student's Association with a person or group with one or more of the actual or perceived characteristics listed in items (i) and (ii) of this subdivision.
105105
106106 3. 4. "Charter holder" means a person that enters into a charter with the state board for charter schools. For the purposes of this paragraph, "person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, association or public or private organization of any kind.
107107
108108 4. 5. "Charter school" means a public school established by contract with the state board of education, the state board for charter schools, a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents, a community college district or a group of community college districts pursuant to article 8 of this chapter to provide learning that will improve pupil student achievement.
109109
110110 5. 6. "Child with a disability" means a child with a disability as defined in section 15-761.
111111
112112 6. 7. "Class A bonds" means general obligation bonds approved by a vote of the qualified electors of a school district at an election held on or before December 31, 1998.
113113
114114 7. 8. "Class B bonds" means general obligation bonds approved by a vote of the qualified electors of a school district at an election held from and after December 31, 1998.
115115
116116 8. 9. "Competency" means a demonstrated ability in a skill at a specified performance level.
117117
118118 9. 10. "Course" means organized subject matter in which instruction is offered within a given period of time and for which credit toward promotion, graduation or certification is usually given. A course consists of knowledge selected from a subject for instructional purposes in the schools.
119119
120120 10. 11. "Course of study" means a list of required and optional subjects to be taught in the schools.
121121
122122 11. 12. "Dual enrollment course" means a college-level course that is conducted on the campus of a high school or on the campus of a career technical education district, that is applicable to an established community college academic degree or certificate program and that is transferable to a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents. A dual enrollment course that is applicable to a community college occupational degree or certificate program may be transferable to a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.
123123
124124 12. 13. "Elementary grades" means kindergarten programs and grades one through eight.
125125
126126 13. 14. "Fiscal year" means the year beginning July 1 and ending June 30.
127127
128128 14. 15. "Governing board" means a body organized for the government to govern and management of manage the schools within a school district or a county school superintendent in the conduct of conducting an accommodation school.
129129
130130 15. 16. "Lease" means an agreement for conveyance conveying and possession of possessing real or personal property.
131131
132132 16. 17. "Limited property value" means the value determined pursuant to title 42, chapter 13, article 7. Limited property value shall be that is used as the basis for assessing, fixing, determining and levying primary property taxes.
133133
134134 17. 18. "Nontest" means not relating to knowledge or skills in reading, writing, mathematics, social studies, science or any other course.
135135
136136 18. 19. "Parent" means the natural or adoptive parent of a child or a person who has custody of a child.
137137
138138 19. 20. "Person who has custody" means a parent or legal guardian of a child, a person to whom custody of the child has been given by order of a court or a person who stands in loco parentis to the child.
139139
140140 20. 21. "Primary property taxes" means all ad valorem taxes except for secondary property taxes.
141141
142142 21. 22. "Private school" means a nonpublic institution where instruction is imparted.
143143
144144 22. 23. "School" or "public school" means any public institution established for the purposes of offering instruction to pupils students in programs for preschool children with disabilities, kindergarten programs or any combination of elementary grades or secondary grades one through twelve.
145145
146146 23. 24. "School district" means a political subdivision of this state with geographic boundaries that is organized for the purpose of the administration to administer, support and maintenance of maintain the public schools or an accommodation school.
147147
148148 24. 25. "Secondary grades" means grades nine through twelve.
149149
150150 25. 26. "Secondary property taxes" means ad valorem taxes used to pay the principal of and the interest and redemption charges on any bonded indebtedness or other lawful long-term obligation issued or incurred for a specific purpose by a school district or a community college district and amounts levied pursuant to an election to exceed a budget, expenditure or tax limitation.
151151
152152 26. 27. "Subject" means a division or field of organized knowledge, such as English or mathematics, or a selection from an organized body of knowledge for a course or teaching unit, such as the English novel or elementary algebra. END_STATUTE
153153
154154 Sec. 2. Title 15, chapter 1, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-186.02, to read:
155155
156156 START_STATUTE15-186.02. Bullying policies and procedures
157157
158158 Each charter school governing body shall prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating and bullying other pupils. These policies may include a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation and bullying at any off-campus location or activity if the alleged activity is reported to school officials and if the harassment, intimidation or bullying creates a hostile environment for the alleged victim at school, infringes on the rights of the alleged victim at school or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of the school. These policies and procedures shall include all of the following:
159159
160160 1. A policy that prohibits Harassment, intimidation and bullying through the use of electronic technology and electronic communications on school grounds, on school property, on school buses, at school bus stops, at school-sponsored events and on school computers, networks, forums and mailing lists.
161161
162162 2. A statement that all pupils are protected under these policies and that bullying is prohibited without regard to the subject matter of the bullying or the motivation of the perpetrator.
163163
164164 3. A procedure for pupils, parents and charter school employees to confidentially report to school officials incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying. The charter 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.
165165
166166 4. A requirement that charter school 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.
167167
168168 5. 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 each pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this section.
169169
170170 6. If an incident is reported pursuant to this section, a requirement that school officials, in compliance with state rules and federal regulations adopted to comply with the family educational rights and privacy act of 1974 (P.L. 93-380; 88 Stat. 57), notify the alleged victim's parent or guardian of the incident and provide the alleged victim with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil. To avoid additional negative consequences to the alleged victim's health and well-being and before notifying the alleged victim's parent, school officials, in consultation with on-site school counselors and social workers, if available, shall evaluate the notification in the same manner as any other educationally relevant decision by considering the health, well-being and safety of any pupil involved in the incident. School officials shall notify the parent or guardian of a pupil who is the alleged perpetrator pursuant to the charter school's disciplinary notification policies and procedures.
171171
172172 7. A formal process for documenting reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and providing for the confidentiality, maintenance and disposition of this documentation. Charter Schools shall maintain documentation of all incidents reported pursuant to this section for at least six years. The charter school shall not use that documentation to impose disciplinary action unless the appropriate school official has investigated and determined that a reported incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred. If a charter school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, the charter school shall redact all individually identifiable information.
173173
174174 8. A formal process for the appropriate school officials to investigate a suspected incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures to timely notify the alleged victim and the alleged victim's parent or guardian when a school official or employee becomes aware of the suspected incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
175175
176176 9. Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted committing or have been found to have committed an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
177177
178178 10. A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting a false report of an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
179179
180180 11. Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically or emotionally harmed, or both, as the result of an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including, if appropriate, procedures to contact emergency medical services or law enforcement agencies, or both.
181181
182182 12. The same definition of bullying prescribed in section 15-101. END_STATUTE
183183
184184 Sec. 3. Section 15-341, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
185185
186186 START_STATUTE15-341. General powers and duties; immunity; delegation
187187
188188 A. The governing board shall:
189189
190190 1. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to govern the schools that are not inconsistent with law or rules prescribed by the state board of education.
191191
192192 2. Exclude from schools all books, publications, papers or audiovisual materials of a sectarian, partisan or denominational character. This paragraph does not prohibit the elective course permitted allowed by section 15-717.01.
193193
194194 3. Manage and control the school property within its district, except that a district may enter into a partnership with an entity, including a charter school, another school district or a military base, to operate a school or offer educational services in a district building, including at a vacant or partially used building, or in any building on the entity's property pursuant to a written agreement between the parties.
195195
196196 4. Acquire school furniture, apparatus, equipment, library books and supplies for the schools to use.
197197
198198 5. Prescribe the curricula and criteria for the promotion and graduation of pupils as provided in sections 15-701 and 15-701.01.
199199
200200 6. Furnish, repair and insure, at full insurable value, the school property of the district.
201201
202202 7. Construct school buildings on approval by a vote of the district electors.
203203
204204 8. In the name of the district, convey property belonging to the district and sold by the board.
205205
206206 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.
207207
208208 10. Construct, improve and furnish buildings used for school purposes when such buildings or premises are leased from the national park service.
209209
210210 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.
211211
212212 12. Hold pupils to strict account for disorderly conduct on school property.
213213
214214 13. Discipline students for disorderly conduct on the way to and from school.
215215
216216 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.
217217
218218 15. Provide that, if a parent or legal guardian chooses not to accept a decision of the teacher as provided in 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 does not release school districts from any liability relating to a child's promotion or retention.
219219
220220 16. Provide for adequate supervision over pupils in instructional and noninstructional activities by certificated or noncertificated personnel.
221221
222222 17. Use school monies received from the state and county school apportionment exclusively to pay salaries of teachers and other employees and contingent expenses of the district.
223223
224224 18. Annually 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 report directly to the county school superintendent or the superintendent of public instruction whenever required.
225225
226226 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.
227227
228228 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.
229229
230230 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.
231231
232232 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.
233233
234234 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.
235235
236236 24. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures relating to the health and safety of all pupils participating in district-sponsored practice sessions or games or other interscholastic athletic activities, including:
237237
238238 (a) The provision of water.
239239
240240 (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 and that the pupil's parent or guardian be notified. 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 evaluating and management of managing 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.
241241
242242 (c) Guidelines, information and forms that are developed in consultation with a statewide private entity that supervises interscholastic activities to inform and educate coaches, pupils and parents of the dangers of heat-related illnesses, sudden cardiac death and prescription opioid use. Before a pupil participates in any district-sponsored practice session or game or other interscholastic athletic activity, the pupil and the pupil's parent must be provided with information at least once each school year on the risks of heat-related illnesses, sudden cardiac death and prescription opioid addiction.
243243
244244 25. Establish an assessment, data gathering and reporting system as prescribed in chapter 7, article 3 of this title.
245245
246246 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.
247247
248248 27. Administer competency tests prescribed by the state board of education for the graduation of pupils from high school.
249249
250250 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.
251251
252252 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 does not 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.
253253
254254 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.
255255
256256 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.
257257
258258 32. Provide written notice to the parents or guardians of all students enrolled in the school district at least ten days 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 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 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 division of school facilities within the department of administration for technical assistance and for information on the impact of closing a school. The information provided from the division of school facilities within the department of administration shall not require the governing board to take or not take any action.
259259
260260 33. Incorporate instruction on Native American history into appropriate existing curricula.
261261
262262 34. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures:
263263
264264 (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 possess and self-administration of self-administer 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.
265265
266266 (b) For the emergency administration of epinephrine auto-injectors by a trained employee of a school district pursuant to section 15-157.
267267
268268 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 is sufficient proof that the pupil is entitled to the possession possess and self-administration of self-administer 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.
269269
270270 36. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures to prohibit pupils from harassing, intimidating and bullying other pupils. These policies may include a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation and bullying at any off-campus location or activity if the alleged activity is reported to school officials and if the harassment, intimidation or bullying creates a hostile environment for the alleged victim at school, infringes on the rights of the alleged victim at school or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of the school. These policies and procedures shall include all of the following:
271271
272272 (a) A policy that prohibits harassment, intimidation and bullying through the use of electronic technology and electronic communications 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:
273273
274274 (b) A statement that all pupils are protected under these policies and that bullying is prohibited without regard to the subject matter of the bullying or the motivation of the perpetrator.
275275
276276 (a) (c) 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.
277277
278278 (b) (d) 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.
279279
280280 (c) (e) 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 each pupil who is an alleged victim of an incident reported pursuant to this paragraph.
281281
282282 (d) (f) If an incident is reported pursuant to this paragraph, a requirement that school officials, provide a pupil who is an in compliance with state rules and federal regulations adopted to comply with the family educational rights and privacy act of 1974 (P.L. 93-380; 88 Stat. 57), notify the alleged victim's parent or guardian of the incident and provide the alleged victim of the incident with a written copy of the rights, protections and support services available to that pupil. To avoid additional negative consequences to the alleged victim's health and well-being and before notifying the alleged victim's parent, school officials, in consultation with on-site school counselors and social workers, if available, shall evaluate the notification in the same manner as any other educationally relevant decision by considering the health, well-being and safety of any pupil involved in the incident. School officials shall notify the parent or guardian of a pupil who is the alleged perpetrator pursuant to the school district's disciplinary notification policies and procedures.
283283
284284 (e) (g) A formal process for documenting reported incidents of harassment, intimidation or bullying and providing 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 a reported incidents incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred. If a school provides documentation of reported incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, the school shall redact all individually identifiable information shall be redacted.
285285
286286 (f) (h) A formal process for the appropriate school officials to investigate a suspected incidents incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including procedures for notifying to timely notify the alleged victim and the alleged victim's parent or guardian when a school official or employee becomes aware of the suspected incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
287287
288288 (g) (i) Disciplinary procedures for pupils who have admitted committing or have been found to have committed incidents an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
289289
290290 (h) (j) A procedure that sets forth consequences for submitting a false reports report of incidents an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
291291
292292 (i) (k) Procedures designed to protect the health and safety of pupils who are physically or EMOTIONALLY harmed, or both, as the result of incidents an incident of harassment, intimidation and bullying, including, if appropriate, procedures to contact emergency medical services or law enforcement agencies, or both.
293293
294294 (j) Definitions of harassment, intimidation and bullying.
295295
296296 (l) The same definition of bullying prescribed in section 15-101.
297297
298298 37. Prescribe and enforce policies and procedures regarding changing or adopting attendance boundaries that include the following components:
299299
300300 (a) A procedure for holding public meetings to discuss attendance boundary changes or adoptions that allows public comments.
301301
302302 (b) A procedure to notify the parents or guardians of the students affected, including assurance that, if that school remains open as part of the boundary change and capacity is available, students assigned to a new attendance area may stay enrolled in their current school.
303303
304304 (c) A procedure to notify the residents of the households affected by the attendance boundary changes.
305305
306306 (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.
307307
308308 (e) A formal process for presenting the attendance boundaries of the affected area in public meetings that allows public comments.
309309
310310 (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.
311311
312312 (g) A formal process for updating attendance boundaries on the school district's website within ninety days after 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.
313313
314314 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.
315315
316316 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 does not 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:
317317
318318 (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.
319319
320320 (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:
321321
322322 (i) A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.
323323
324324 (ii) A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.
325325
326326 (iii) A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.
327327
328328 (iv) A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.
329329
330330 (v) A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.
331331
332332 (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:
333333
334334 (i) A letter grade of "A" if the school district is excellent.
335335
336336 (ii) A letter grade of "B" if the school district is above average.
337337
338338 (iii) A letter grade of "C" if the school district is average.
339339
340340 (iv) A letter grade of "D" if the school district is below average.
341341
342342 (v) A letter grade of "F" if the school district is a failure.
343343
344344 (d) Twenty-five percent of the performance pay shall be determined by other criteria selected by the governing board.
345345
346346 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.
347347
348348 41. Adopt in a public meeting and implement policies for principal evaluations. Before adopting principal evaluation policies, the school district governing board shall provide opportunities for public discussion on the proposed policies. The governing board shall adopt policies that:
349349
350350 (a) Are designed to improve principal performance and improve student achievement.
351351
352352 (b) Include the use of quantitative data on the academic progress for all students, which shall account for between twenty percent and thirty-three percent of the evaluation outcomes.
353353
354354 (c) Include four performance classifications, designated as highly effective, effective, developing and ineffective.
355355
356356 (d) Describe both of the following:
357357
358358 (i) The methods used to evaluate the performance of principals, including the data used to measure student performance and job effectiveness.
359359
360360 (ii) The formula used to determine evaluation outcomes.
361361
362362 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.
363363
364364 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.
365365
366366 44. In addition to the notification requirements prescribed in paragraph 36 of this subsection, prescribe and enforce reasonable and appropriate policies to notify a pupil's parent or guardian if any person engages in harassing, threatening or intimidating conduct against that pupil. A school district and its officials and 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 paragraph, except in cases of gross negligence or wanton or wilful neglect. A person engages in threatening or intimidating if the person threatens or intimidates by word or conduct to cause physical injury to another person or serious damage to the property of another on school grounds. A person engages in harassment if, with intent to harass or with knowledge that the person is harassing another person, the person anonymously or otherwise contacts, communicates or causes a communication with another person by verbal, electronic, mechanical, telephonic or written means in a manner that harasses on school grounds or substantially disrupts the school environment.
367367
368368 45. Each fiscal year, provide to each school district employee a total compensation statement that is broken down by category of benefit or payment and that includes, for that employee, at least all of the following:
369369
370370 (a) Base salary and any additional pay.
371371
372372 (b) Medical benefits and the value of any employer-paid portions of insurance plan premiums.
373373
374374 (c) Retirement benefit plans, including social security.
375375
376376 (d) Legally required benefits.
377377
378378 (e) Any paid leave.
379379
380380 (f) Any other payment made to or on behalf of the employee.
381381
382382 (g) Any other benefit provided to the employee.
383383
384384 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.
385385
386386 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:
387387
388388 1. Is not abated, extinguished, discharged or merged in the title to the property.
389389
390390 2. Is enforceable in the same manner as other delinquent tax liens.
391391
392392 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.
393393
394394 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 adopting and implementation of implementing 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.
395395
396396 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.
397397
398398 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 oversight board established by section 41-5701.02 of the proposed action and receives written approval from the school facilities oversight 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 41-5711, subsection B is subject to commensurate withholding of school district district additional assistance monies pursuant to the direction of the school facilities oversight 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.
399399
400400 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.
401401
402402 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 oversight board for the purpose of certifying that the plans meet the minimum school facility adequacy guidelines prescribed in section 41-5711.
403403
404404 J. For the purposes of subsection A, paragraph 37 of this section, attendance boundaries may not be used to require students to attend certain schools based on the student's place of residence. END_STATUTE
405405
406406 Sec. 4. Intent
407407
408408 The legislature finds and declares that:
409409
410410 1. All students have the right to participate fully in the educational process and to be free from harassment, intimidation and bullying.
411411
412412 2. A safe and civil environment in school is necessary for students to learn and to achieve high academic standards.
413413
414414 3. Harassment, intimidation and bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, are forms of conduct that disrupt both a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its students in a safe environment.
415415
416416 4. Staff and volunteers should be expected to demonstrate appropriate behavior, treat others with civility and respect and refuse to tolerate bullying, intimidation and harassment.
417417
418418 Sec. 5. Short title
419419
420420 This act may be cited as the "Arizona Safe Schools Act of 2022".