SB 1560
Initials CH Page 1 House Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
Senate: ED DP 7-0-0-0 | 3rd Read 28-0-2-0
House: ED DP 10-0-0-0
SB 1560: public schools; noncertificated personnel; discipline
Sponsor: Senator Bennett, LD 1
House Engrossed
Overview
Expands the authority of the State Board of Education (SBE) to prohibit or restrict a
noncertificated person from being employed in a school district or charter school (public
school) if the person was disciplined in another jurisdiction.
History
Currently, a noncertificated person is a public school employee who does not have a certificate
issued by SBE and who is required or allowed to provide services directly to students without
being supervised by a certificated employee. However, noncertificated person does not include
a person who is a: 1) transportation employee; 2) food service employee or contractor; 3)
maintenance worker; or 4) public school employee or contractor who is not required to have
a valid fingerprint clearance card.
SBE is required to investigate written complaints alleging that a noncertificated person
engaged in immoral or unprofessional conduct. SBE may review complaints and determine
whether to take disciplinary action against a noncertificated person, including prohibiting
that person from being employed at a public school for up to five years. A public school may
not employ a noncertificated person who has been prohibited from employment in a public
school by SBE in a position that requires a valid fingerprint clearance card (A.R.S. § 15-505).
An applicant for certification who was disciplined in another jurisdiction for immoral or
unprofessional conduct must successfully complete the disciplinary process in that
jurisdiction before applying for certification in Arizona. Furthermore, after notice that a
person's educator certificate has been revoked in another jurisdiction, SBE may revoke all
Arizona certificates issued to that person in a manner consistent with the terms of revocation
in the other jurisdiction, unless the person requests a hearing. After such a hearing, SBE
must determine whether to uphold or decline the revocation (A.R.S. § 15-534.04).
Provisions
1. Requires a noncertificated person who was disciplined in another jurisdiction for immoral
or unprofessional conduct to successfully complete the disciplinary process in that
jurisdiction before being employed by an Arizona public school. (Sec. 2)
2. Allows SBE, after notice that another jurisdiction revoked or suspended a noncertificated
person's ability to be employed by a public school, to prohibit the noncertificated person
from being employed by an Arizona public school in a manner consistent with the terms
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note SB 1560
Initials CH Page 2 House Engrossed
of revocation or suspension in the other jurisdiction, unless the person requests a hearing.
(Sec. 2)
3. Stipulates that if the noncertificated person requests a hearing, SBE must determine
whether to uphold or decline the revocation or suspension after the hearing. (Sec. 2)
4. Authorizes SBE, after notice that a person's educator certificate was suspended in
another jurisdiction, to suspend that person's Arizona certificates in a manner consistent
with the terms of the suspension in the other jurisdiction. (Sec. 2)
5. Includes, in the definition of noncertificated person, a current or prospective public school
employee who meets existing statutory criteria. (Sec. 1)
6. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1, 2)