Bill > HB4077

This bill amends existing Arizona law concerning the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB) by updating definitions and expanding the authority of the ASDB Board of Directors regarding capital improvements and financing. Specifically, it clarifies definitions for terms like "Board," "employee classifications," "hearing impairment," "schools," and "sensory impairment" to ensure consistency and modernizes language. More significantly, the bill grants the ASDB Board new powers to acquire, finance, and improve school facilities through various methods, including indirect or third-party financing, borrowing money, and entering into lease-purchase agreements, with specific financial limits and review processes outlined. These new powers are subject to review by the Joint Committee on Capital Review, and any lease-purchase agreements must clearly state that they do not create a general obligation indebtedness for the state and are contingent on legislative appropriations. The bill also establishes a dedicated "capital improvement and school facilities fund" to manage monies for these projects and clarifies that the board can accept grants and loans for such purposes.

Education

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/85599