Bill Text: AZ HB2322 | 2016 | Fifty-second Legislature 2nd Regular | Introduced
Bill Title: Schools; safe-to-tell program
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Referred to House ED Committee [HB2322 Detail]
Download: Arizona-2016-HB2322-Introduced.html
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REFERENCE TITLE: schools; safe-to-tell program |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-second Legislature Second Regular Session 2016
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HB 2322 |
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Introduced by Representative Meyer
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AN ACT
amending Title 15, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-249.06; relating to the department of education.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 2, article 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-249.06, to read:
15-249.06. Safe‑to‑tell program; requirements; safe‑to‑tell fund; program termination
A. The department shall establish the safe-to-tell program in the department to enable any person to anonymously report any dangerous, violent or unlawful activity that is being conducted or is threatened to be conducted on school property, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on a school bus of a public school.
B. Any information relating to any dangerous, violent or unlawful activity or any threat of dangerous, violent or unlawful activity that is reported pursuant to this section is confidential and, except as otherwise required to be disclosed by law in connection with a criminal investigation or criminal proceeding, may not be disclosed to any person.
C. The Program established pursuant to this section must include methods and procedures to ensure that:
1. Information reported pursuant to this section is promptly forwarded to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and school officials.
2. The identity of a person who reports information pursuant to this section is not disclosed to any person:
(a) Who is employed by the department.
(b) Who contracts with, serves as a volunteer with or otherwise assists a person or organization with whom the department contracts.
(c) Except as otherwise required to be disclosed by law in connection with a criminal investigation or criminal proceeding.
D. The department may enter into agreements with a qualified third party to operate a hotline or call center to receive initial reports made pursuant to this section and to forward the information to law enforcement and school officials.
E. The department shall offer training programs regarding the safe‑to‑tell program to law enforcement personnel and to employees of school districts and charter schools.
F. The department shall:
1. Post information about the safe-to-tell program on the department's website.
2. Provide to each public school in this state educational materials about the safe-to-tell program that include the telephone number to call to make an anonymous report.
G. The safe‑to‑tell fund is established consisting of monies received pursuant to this subsection. The department shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund may be distributed to implement and operate the safe‑to‑tell program established pursuant to this section. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated. The department may accept and deposit into the fund federal monies and private grants, gifts, contributions and devises to assist in carrying out the purposes of this section.
H. The program established by this section ends on July 1, 2026 pursuant to section 41‑3102.
