Assigned to ED & APPROP FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1227
school safety; cell phone bans
Purpose
Expands the School Safety Program (Program) to support the costs of implementing cell
phone bans in school classrooms. Outlines requirements for a Program proposal to implement a
cell phone ban in school classrooms.
Background
The Program is established within the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to support,
promote and enhance safe and effective learning environments for all students by supporting the
costs of placing school resource officers (SRO), juvenile probation officers (JPO), school
counselors and school social workers on school campuses.
A Program proposal for supporting the costs of SROs or JPOs must contain: 1) a
description of the school safety needs of the school district or charter school; 2) a plan for
implementing a law-related education program or a plan that demonstrates the existence of a
law-related education program; 3) a plan to use trained SROs or JPOs in the school; and
4) information on the success, compliance and implementation of the most recent grant, if the
school district or charter school has already participated in the Program. A Program proposal for
supporting the costs of placing school counselors or school social workers must contain: 1) a
description of the school safety needs of the school district or charter school; 2) a plan for
implementing a school guidance and counseling program that includes outlined requirements; and
3) information on the success, compliance and implementation of the most recent approved
Program proposal, if the school district or charter school has already participated in the Program.
ADE must evaluate the effectiveness of all approved Program proposals submitted to
support the costs of placing SROs and JPOs or school counselors and school social workers and
annually report on Program activities and participants to the Governor, Senate President and
Speaker of the House of Representatives by November 1. ADE must establish data guidelines for
Program participants to follow for the reporting requirements (A.R.S. ยง 15-154).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Expands the Program to support the costs of implementing cell phone bans in school
classrooms. FACT SHEET
S.B. 1227
Page 2
2. Requires a Program proposal to support the costs of implementing a cell phone ban to contain:
a) a detailed description of the school safety needs of the school district or charter school;
b) a plan for implementing a cell phone ban in the classrooms of one or more school sites,
including the cost of materials required by the plan; and
c) information on the success, compliance and implementation of the most recent grant, if the
school district or charter school has already participated in the Program.
3. Applies the requirements for ADE to evaluate and report on Program proposals for supporting
the costs of placing SROs, JPOs, school counselors and school social workers to Program
proposals for supporting the costs of implementing a cell phone ban.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 17, 2025
MH/KK/ci