Arizona HB 2364: election pamphlet submittals; identification required

Bill Text

Chapter 0184 - 551R - H Ver of HB2364 

 House Engrossed

 election 
 pamphlet submittals; identification required

 State of 
 Arizona

 House of 
 Representatives

 Fifty-fifth 
 Legislature

 First Regular 
 Session

 2021

 CHAPTER 
 184

 HOUSE BILL 2364

AN ACT

amending 
sections 15-481, 19-124 and 35-454, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to 
informational election pamphlets.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 15-481, Arizona Revised 
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-481. Override election; budget increases; informational pamphlet; 
notice; ballot; effect

A. If a proposed budget of a school district exceeds 
the aggregate budget limit for the budget year, at least ninety days before the 
proposed election the governing board shall order an override election to be 
held on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as prescribed 
by section 16-204, subsection F for the purpose of presenting the 
proposed budget to the qualified electors of the school district who by a 
majority of those voting either shall affirm or reject the 
budget. At the same time as the order of the election, the governing 
board shall publicly declare the deadline for submitting arguments, as set by 
the county school superintendent pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 9 of this 
section, to be submitted in the informational pamphlet and shall immediately 
post the deadline in a prominent location on the district's 
website. In addition, the governing board shall prepare an alternate 
budget that does not include an increase in the budget of more than the amount permitted allowed as provided in section 
15-905. If the qualified electors approve the proposed budget, 
the governing board of the school district shall follow the procedures 
prescribed in section 15-905 for adopting a budget that includes the 
authorized increase. If the qualified electors disapprove the 
proposed budget, the governing board shall follow the procedures prescribed in 
section 15-905 for adopting a budget that does not include the proposed 
increase or the portion of the proposed increase that exceeds the amount 
authorized by a previously approved budget increase as prescribed in subsection 
P of this section.

B. The county school superintendent shall prepare an 
informational pamphlet on the proposed increase in the budget and a sample 
ballot and, at least forty days prior to 
before the election, shall transmit the informational pamphlet and the 
sample ballot to the governing board of the school district. The 
governing board, on receipt of the informational pamphlet and the ballot, shall 
mail or distribute the informational pamphlet and the ballot to the households 
in which qualified electors reside within the school district at least thirty-five 
days prior to before the 
election. Any distribution of material concerning the proposed 
increase in the budget shall not be conducted by children enrolled in the 
school district. The informational pamphlet shall contain the 
following information:

1. The date of the election.

2. The voter's polling place and the times it is 
open.

3. The proposed total increase in the budget that exceeds 
the amount permitted allowed 
pursuant to section 15-905.

4. The total amount of the current year's budget, 
the total amount of the proposed budget and the total amount of the alternate 
budget.

5. If the override is for a period of more than one 
year, a statement indicating the number of years the proposed increase in the 
budget would be in effect and the percentage of the school district's revenue 
control limit that the district is requesting for the future years.

6. The proposed total amount of revenues that will 
fund the increase in the budget and the amount that will be obtained from a 
levy of taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the first 
year for which the budget increase was adopted.

7. The proposed amount of revenues that will fund 
the increase in the budget and that will be obtained from other than a levy of 
taxes on the taxable property within the school district for the first year for 
which the budget increase was adopted.

8. The dollar amount and the purpose for which the 
proposed increase in the budget is to be expended for the first year for which 
the budget increase was adopted. The purpose statement shall only 
present factual information in a neutral manner.� Advocacy for the expenditures 
is strictly limited to the arguments submitted pursuant to paragraph 9 of this 
subsection.

9. At least two arguments, if submitted, but no not more than ten arguments for and two 
arguments, if submitted, but no not 
more than ten arguments against the proposed increase in the 
budget. The arguments shall be in a form prescribed by the county 
school superintendent, and each argument shall not exceed two hundred 
words. Arguments for the proposed increase