Bill > HB2580

This bill makes several changes to Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) program, which provides public funds for eligible students to use for private education expenses. Key provisions include the addition of "micro-schools" as an eligible educational option, alongside qualified schools, and requiring that both micro-schools and qualified schools ensure their staff who have unsupervised contact with students are fingerprinted, at least 18 years old, and not subject to disciplinary action by the state board of education for immoral or unprofessional conduct. The bill also expands the definition of a "qualified student" to include children of parents who are legally blind or deaf/hard of hearing, and children who are siblings of current or previous ESA recipients. Furthermore, it clarifies that tutoring or teaching services can be provided by individuals who meet the same personnel requirements as school staff, and that micro-schools cannot employ family members of the student to provide instruction if the micro-school charges tuition. The bill also introduces new safety requirements for qualified schools and micro-schools, such as compliance with fire and safety codes, securing dangerous equipment, and prohibiting illegal drugs and alcohol on premises. Finally, it updates references within the law, such as changing the definition of "qualified student" from paragraph 7 to paragraph 8 in certain sections.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/84402