AZ SB1353

Amends Section 15-2403 of Arizona Revised Statutes relating to Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) administration by the Arizona Department of Education.

Requires the department to include both an estimated per-student amount and an updated estimate of total funding needed for ESA accounts in its annual budget request to the legislature pursuant to Section 35-113.

Clarifies that ineligible expenditures repaid by account holders must be credited back to the ESA account balance within 30 days of payment receipt, except in cases of fraud determined by the attorney general.

Establishes that if the state board of education issues a stay of an ESA account suspension during an appeal, the department may not withhold funding or contract renewal based on the appealed decision unless the board directs otherwise.