ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

Senate:  ED DP 4-3-0-0 | Third Read 17-12-1-0

☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note

SB 1475: interscholastic activities; criminal offenses; ineligibility

Sponsor: Senator Finchem, LD 1

Committee on Education

Overview

Prohibits a school district governing board (governing board) from allowing a student to participate in a school district-sponsored interscholastic activity or program if the student has been convicted of, admitted in open court to, pleaded no contest to or admitted pursuant to a plea agreement to committing specified criminal offenses.

History

A governing board must: 1) hold students to strict account for disorderly conduct on school property; 2) discipline students for disorderly conduct on the way to and from school; and 3) prescribe and enforce policies and procedures relating to the health and safety of pupils participating in district-sponsored practice sessions or games or other interscholastic athletic activities (A.R.S. § 15-341).

Provisions

1.   Instructs a governing board to prohibit a student from participating in a school district-sponsored interscholastic activity or program if the student has been convicted of, admitted in open court to, pleaded no contest to or admitted pursuant to a plea agreement to committing any of the following criminal offenses in Arizona or a similar offense in another jurisdiction or a delinquent act that if committed by an adult would constitute any of the following criminal offenses:

a.   aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument or that results in serious physical injury;

b.   any sexual offense;

c. harassment involving sexually explicit communications or conduct;

d.   stalking;

e. sexual exploitation and commercial sexual exploitation of a minor;

f. luring a minor for sexual exploitation;

g.   domestic violence; or

h.   incest. (Sec. 2)

2.   Requires a governing board to prohibit, on notice that a student is charged with or awaiting trial on any of the specified criminal offenses or a delinquent act that if committed by an adult would constitute any of the specified criminal offenses from participating in a school-district sponsored interscholastic activity or program until the charges are dismissed or the student is found to be not guilty. (Sec. 2)

3.   Stipulates a governing board must require any student participating or seeking to participate in a school district-sponsored interscholastic activity or program to certify whether the student has been convicted of, admitted in open court to, pleaded no contest to or admitted pursuant to a plea agreement to committing any of the specified criminal offenses in Arizona or a similar offense in another jurisdiction or a delinquent act that if committed by an adult would constitute any of the specified criminal offenses. (Sec. 2)

4.   Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

 

 

 

 

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------

Initials CH/JD                     SB 1475

3/6/2026 Page 0    Education

 

---------- DOCUMENT FOOTER ---------