ESA program; performance review; termination

This bill establishes a formal review process for the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, which provides educational funding for students, with the goal of deciding whether to continue or end the program by July 1, 2032. It requires legislative committees to conduct a comprehensive program review and an independent audit by the Auditor General at least seventeen months before the program's scheduled termination to evaluate its effectiveness, efficiency, and alignment with original objectives. The process includes a draft report allowing the department to submit comments, public hearings to gather testimony, and a final decision based on the collected data. If the legislature chooses to continue the program, it must pass new legislation before the July 2032 deadline, and the bill also sets a date for the repeal of the relevant laws in 2033.