Assigned to ED AS PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1659
state board; allegations of misconduct
Purpose
Allows the highest ranking official of a school or school district to request information
from the State Board of Education (SBE) relating to allegations of conduct that, if true, constitutes
grounds for disciplinary action before the SBE investigates the allegations or determines whether
to take disciplinary action.
Background
Any person may file, with the SBE, a statement of allegations against a certificated or
noncertificated person that states the facts under which the party is alleging immoral or
unprofessional conduct. The statement of allegations must include specified information, including
the names and contact information of individuals who may provide information relating to the
allegations. The SBE must investigate all filed statements of allegations and may investigate, at its
own discretion, any matter against a certificated or noncertificated person upon receiving
information from any source that indicates immoral or unprofessional conduct has occurred. The
SBE may take disciplinary action against a certificated or noncertificated person on the finding
that the person engaged in immoral or unprofessional conduct, including not renewing the
certificate of a certificated person or prohibiting a noncertificated person's employment at a public
school (A.R.S. §§ 15-505 and 15-534; A.A.C. R7-2-1302; and A.A.C. R7-2-1303).
On request of the SBE or the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), any school or
school district that has employed a certificated or noncertificated person who is alleged to have
engaged in conduct constituting grounds for disciplinary action during employment must make
available witness testimony and attendance, any physical evidence and documents within the
school district's control for examination and copying. Statute authorizes the SBE to provide
information, records or reports relating to the investigation of a certificated or noncertificated
person to: 1) any school or school district that currently employs the person; 2) any school or
school district to which the person has applied for employment; 3) any third-party entity that
contracts with a school or school district to provide educators and that the person has applied to
for employment; 4) any state agency that is investigating the person or an application received by
the person for a certificate or license in order to make a certification or licensure decision; and
5) a state education agency in another state, or the equivalent, with which a person holds a
certificate or is applying for a certificate (A.R.S. § 15-530).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation. FACT SHEET – Amended
S.B 1659
Page 2
Provisions
1. Allows the highest ranking official of a school or school district to request information from
the SBE relating to allegations that a certificated or noncertificated person engaged in conduct
that, if true, constitutes grounds for disciplinary action if the person resigned or otherwise
separated from employment with a school before the SBE either investigates the allegations or
determines whether to take disciplinary action against the person.
2. Directs the SBE to provide the requested information, if available, to the highest ranking
official or an administrator who is designated by the official, after verifying the official's
identity.
3. Allows the SBE to deny an official's request or provide the information after the SBE
completes the investigation if providing the requested information might impede the SBE's
investigation of allegations.
4. Makes conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Specifies that only the highest ranking official of a school or school district may request
information from the State Board of Education (SBE) relating to the allegations.
2. Determines that the SBE may provide only information relating to outlined allegations, rather
than information, records and reports relating to the allegations.
3. Directs the SBE to provide information relating to the allegations only to the highest ranking
official or an administrator designated by the official, after verifying the official's identity.
4. Allows the SBE, if providing the requested information might impede the SBE's investigation
of the allegations, to deny an official's request or provide the information after the SBE
completes the investigation.
5. Makes technical and conforming changes.
Senate Action
ED 2/12/25 DP 6-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 6, 2025
MH/SDR/ci