appropriation; braille transcription program

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify if there are any limits on who can use the Braille Transcription Program's services.

Braille Transcription Program Funding

HB2207 provides $300,000 from the state's money for fiscal year 2026-2027 to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) for the Braille Transcription Program.

What This Bill Does

• Appropriates $300,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2026-2027 to ADCRR for the Braille Transcription Program.
• Requires ADCRR to submit an annual report by October 15th each year starting in 2026 about how many students were served by the program, both in-state and out-of-state.

Who It Names or Affects

• The Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) receives more money.
• Visually impaired students who use the Braille Transcription Program benefit from increased funding.

Terms To Know

Braille

A system of raised dots that allows visually impaired people to read and write using their fingers.

Fiscal Year

The period used for calculating financial reports, usually from July 1st to June 30th.

Limits and Unknowns

• It is not clear how the additional funding will be used beyond what is currently known.
• The bill does not specify if there are any limits on who can use the Braille Transcription Program's services.

Official Summary Text

HB2207 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet

Assigned to
PS
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COMMITTEE

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session

FACT SHEET FOR
h.b. 2207

appropriation;
braille transcription program

Purpose

Appropriates $300,000 from the state General Fund (state GF) in FY 2027
to the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR)
for the Braille Transcription Program.

Background

ADCRR provides supervisory staff and administrative functions at the
state level on all matters relating to the institutionalization or
rehabilitation of adult offenders, including educational services for
functional literacy, GED preparation and career and technical education and apprenticeships.
ADCRR staff consists of more than 100 professional educators with the goal of
addressing the educational needs of the offender population incarcerated in 10
ADCRR prison complexes and 7 private prisons contracting with ADCRR statewide (
A.R.S.
� 41-1602
;
ADCRR
Education
).

The Braille Transcription Program trains participants to transcribe
materials into Braille, contributing to accessibility for the visually impaired
(
ADCRR
Program Catalog
).

H.B. 2207 appropriates $300,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADCRR.

Provisions

1.

Appropriates
$300,000 from the state GF in FY 2027 to ADCRR for the Braille Transcription
Program.

2.

Requires
ADCRR to submit a report on the Braille Transcription Program by October 15,
2026, 2027 and 2028 to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the Governor and provide a copy to the Secretary of State.

3.

Requires
the annual report to include:

a)

the number of in-state students who were served by the Braille
Transcription Program in the prior fiscal year; and

b)

the number of out-of-state students who were served by the Braille
Transcription Program in the prior fiscal year.

4.

Declares
the Legislature's findings that ADCRR currently allocates $200,000 each fiscal
year for the Braille Transcription Program.

5.

Declares
the Legislature's intent that the appropriation be considered ongoing funding
in future years.

6.

Becomes
effective on the general effective date.

House Action

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Prepared by
Senate Research

March 5, 2026

KJA/SDR/hk

Current Bill Text

HB2207 - 572R - H Ver

House Engrossed

appropriation;
braille transcription program

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HOUSE BILL 2207

AN
ACT

Appropriating monies to the state department
of corrections.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1.
Appropriation;
state department of corrections; braille transcription program; reports;
findings and intent

A. The sum of $300,000 is
appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the state
department of corrections for the braille transcription program.

B. On or before October 15,
2026, October 15, 2027 and October 15, 2028, the state department of
corrections shall submit an annual report on the braille transcription program
to the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives and
the governor and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of
state. The report shall include:

1. The number of students
in this state who were served by the program in the prior fiscal year.

2. The number of students
outside this state who were served by the program in the prior fiscal year.

C. The legislature finds
that the state department of corrections currently allocates $200,000 each
fiscal year for the braille transcription program. The legislature
intends that the appropriation of $300,000 made in subsection A of this section
be considered ongoing funding in future years.