ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

HB 2020: educational institutions; interference; disruption

Sponsor: Representative Keshel, LD 17

Committee on Government

Overview

Revises the definition and classification of an interference with or disruption of an educational institution.

History

An educational institution is any university, college, community college, high school or common school in Arizona. Interference with or disruption of includes any act that might reasonably lead to the evacuation or closure of any educational institution's property or the postponement, cancellation or suspension of a class or school activity. It is not required that an educational institution evacuate, close, postpone, cancel or suspend activities for it to be considered an interference or disruption.

An individual commits interference with or disruption of an educational institution by: 1) intentionally or recklessly interfering with an educational institution's normal operations by threatening to cause physical injury to any person on the educational institution's property or threatening to cause damage to an educational institution or a student's or employee's property; 2) intentionally entering or remaining on the property with the purpose of interfering with the property's lawful use; or 3) intentionally refusing to obey a lawful order given by the chief administrative officer ordering an individual to leave the educational institution's property.

Interference with or disruption of an educational institution by threatening to cause physical injury to individuals or damage to property is a class 6 felony. While interference with or disruption of an educational institution by intentionally entering or remaining on the property to interfere and refusing to leave when told by the chief administrative officer is a class 1 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 13-2911).

Provisions

1. Changes the classification of an interference with or disruption of an educational institution to a class 1 misdemeanor for individuals under 18 years old. (Sec. 1)

2. Modifies the definition of interference with or disruption of by:

a. replacing postponement with rescheduling of any class or other school activity;

b. removing the stipulation that an actual evacuation, closure, postponement, cancellation or suspension is not required for the act to be considered an interference or disruption; and

c. adding that it does not include the normal procedures that a school district or law enforcement agency engages in and that pertain to investigating or disciplining a student. (Sec. 1)

3. Makes technical and conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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7. Initials ML/MN HB 2020

8. 2/6/2026 Page 0 Government

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