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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
age-appropriate resources; inappropriate contact; schools
Purpose
Requires the State Board of Education (SBE) to develop a list of recommended resources relating to age-appropriate education on the prevention and recognition of inappropriate forms of contact and the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to post the list on its website and make the list available to public schools as outlined. Requires a public school to make resources available to students and parents relating to age-appropriate education on the inappropriate forms of contact using the list developed by the SBE.
Background
The SBE exercises general supervision over and regulates the conduct of the public school system. Statute outlines the SBE's powers and duties, including requirements to: 1) supervise and control the certification of persons engaged in instructional work; 2) prepare, publish and distribute reports concerning the educational welfare of Arizona; 3) recommend to the Legislature changes or additions to the statutes pertaining to schools; and 4) aid in the enforcement of laws relating to schools (A.R.S. § 15-203).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires the SBE to:
a) develop a list of recommended resources relating to age-appropriate education on the prevention and recognition of inappropriate forms of contact, including sexual contact; and
b) establish a process that allows public schools and members of the public to recommend additional resources for the list.
2. Requires ADE to post the list on ADE's website and make at least one resource from the list available to public schools for each age group as determined by ADE after consultation with the SBE.
3. Requires each public school to make available to all students and students' parents resources relating to age-appropriate education on the prevention and recognition of inappropriate forms of contact, including sexual contact, from the list developed by the SBE.
4. Defines age-appropriate as generally accepted as suitable for children of the same age or maturity level based on the development of cognitive, emotional, physical and behavioral capacity that is typical or an age or age group.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 13, 2026
MH/SM/hk