SB 1659
Initials CH/ML Page 1 House Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-seventh Legislature
First Regular Session
Senate: ED DP 6-0-1-0 | 3rd Read 26-1-3-0-0
House: ED DP 11-0-0-1
SB 1659: state board; allegations of misconduct
Sponsor: Senator Bolick, LD 2
House Engrossed
Overview
Grants a highest ranking school official the ability to request from the State Board of
Education (SBE) information relating to allegations that a person engaged in conduct that
constitutes grounds for disciplinary action if the person resigned from a school before SBE
investigates or takes disciplinary action.
History
SBE oversees investigations of allegations that a certificated person, noncertificated person
or person seeking certification engaged in immoral or unprofessional conduct. If SBE finds
that a person committed immoral or unprofessional conduct, it must impose disciplinary
action, such as: 1) prohibiting the person's employment at a school district or charter school;
2) issuing a letter of censure; 3) suspending the person with conditions; or 4) revoking the
person's certificate. Before employing a certificated or noncertificated person, a school district
or charter school must search the applicant in the educator information system (A.R.S. §§ 15-
203, 15-505 and 15-550).
If requested by SBE or the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), a school that employed
a certificated or noncertificated person who is alleged to have engaged in conduct constituting
grounds for disciplinary action must make available the attendance and testimony of
witnesses, documents and any physical evidence. SBE may provide information, records or
reports relating to the investigation of a certificated or noncertificated person to: 1) a school
that currently employs the person or at which the person applied for employment; 2) any
third-party entity that contracts with a school to provide educators and to which the person
applied for employment; 3) any state agency that received and is investigating an application
from the person in order to make a certification or licensure decision; or 4) another state's
education agency through which the person holds a certificate or is applying for certification
(A.R.S. § 15-350).
Provisions
1. Allows the highest ranking official of a school or school district to request from SBE
information regarding allegations that a certificated or noncertificated person, who
resigned from or separated from employment with a school before SBE investigates the
allegations or determines whether to take disciplinary action, engaged in conduct that, if
true, constitutes grounds for disciplinary action. (Sec. 1)
2. Directs SBE, after verifying the school official's identity, to provide the official or an
administrator designated by the official with the requested information. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note SB 1659
Initials CH/ML Page 2 House Engrossed
3. Authorizes SBE, if providing the requested information to the school official might impede
its ability to investigate the allegations, to:
a) deny the official's request; or
b) provide the information to the official or designated administrator after completing
the investigation. (Sec. 1)
4. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1)