HB 2373 Summary

• Adds student victims of certain crimes to the list of qualified students eligible for Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts, including victims of assault, harassment, hazing, kidnapping, theft, burglary, sexual harassment, sexual offenses, threatening or intimidation, fighting, and sex trafficking occurring on school grounds, school buses, school events, or through school electronic communications.

• Requires school principals to provide a copy of police reports or court pleadings involving these incidents to the parent of the alleged victim and investigate within established timelines.

• Mandates that school districts or charter schools notify the parent of the alleged victim about Arizona empowerment scholarship account eligibility within 15 days after an incident is reported or when the investigation concludes, whichever comes first.

• Establishes department duties including cross-checking qualified student lists with public school enrollment, maintaining a list of nationally norm-referenced tests, requiring quarterly reports from scholarship organizations, and contracting for annual reviews of school incident prevention programs and academic performance of participating students.

• Titles the act the "Lifeline for Student Crime Victims Act."