Senate Engrossed

State of Arizona Senate Forty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session 2006

SENATE BILL 1153

 

AN ACT

 

amending Title 15, chapter 14, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 8; relating to rights of student organizations.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

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

Section 1.  Title 15, chapter 14, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 8, to read:

ARTICLE 8.  RIGHTS OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

START_STATUTE15-1881.  Definitions

In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1.  "Public postsecondary institution":

(a)  Means a community college as defined in section 15-1401 and any university governed by Chapter 13 of this Title.

(b)  Includes any student government body that has been authorized by a public postsecondary institution.

2.  "Recognition" means any official or administrative acknowledgment of a student organization that is required before the organization is granted access, rights, benefits or privileges that a public postsecondary institution makes available to student organizations.

3.  "Student organization" means a voluntary association organized for a noncurricular purpose by students attending a public postsecondary institution. END_STATUTE

START_STATUTE15-1882.  Rights of student organizations at public postsecondary institutions

A.  It is unlawful for any public postsecondary institution to deny recognition, access, rights, benefits or privileges to a student organization on the basis that the organization advocates religious, political or philosophical beliefs or perspectives or on the basis that the organization determines its membership or leadership in accordance with its religious, political or philosophical beliefs or perspectives.

B.  This section shall not be construed to require this state or any of its political subdivisions to:

1.  Infringe the constitutional rights to free exercise of religion, freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.

2.  Recognize an organization that engages in invidious discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin or sex.

3.  Recognize an organization that disseminates messages or materials that are obscene, defamatory, fraudulent or comprise fighting words. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2.  Short title

Title 15, chapter 14, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act, may be cited as the "Associational Freedom in Higher Learning Act".