Senate Engrossed

 

 

 

State of Arizona

Senate

Forty-ninth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2010

 

 

SENATE BILL 1189

 

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending title 12, chapter 13, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 12-2203; relating to evidence.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 



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

Section 1.  Title 12, chapter 13, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 12-2203, to read:

START_STATUTE12-2203.  Admissibility of expert opinion testimony

A.  In a civil action, only a qualified witness may offer expert opinion testimony regarding scientific, technical or other specialized knowledge and the testimony is admissible if the court determines that all of the following apply:

1.  The witness is qualified to offer an opinion as an expert on the subject matter based on knowledge, skill, experience, training or education.

2.  The opinion will assist the trier of fact in understanding the evidence or determining a fact in issue.

3.  The opinion is based on sufficient facts and data.

4.  The opinion is the product of reliable principles and methods.

5.  The witness reliably applies the principles and methods to the facts of the case.

B.  The court shall consider the following factors, If applicable, in determining whether the expert testimony is admissible pursuant to subsection A:

1.  Whether the expert opinion and its basis have been or can be tested.

2.  Whether the expert opinion and its basis have been subjected to peer reviewed publications.

3.  The known or potential rate of error of the expert opinion and its basis.

4.  The degree to which the expert opinion and its basis are generally accepted in the scientific community.

5.  Whether the expert employed the level of scientific or technical rigor ordinarily applied by experts in the field forming opinions of this type outside the context of litigation. END_STATUTE