 |
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
educational institutions; interference; disruption
Purpose
Classifies, as a class 1 misdemeanor, rather than a class 6 felony, interference with or disruption of an educational institution for persons younger than 18 years old who threaten to cause physical injury or damage to property as outlined. Redefines interference with or disruption of.
Background
A person commits interference with or disruption of an educational institution if the person: 1) intentionally, knowingly or recklessly interferes with or disrupts the normal operations of an educational institution by threatening to cause physical injury to any person on educational institution property or damage to any educational institution, educational institution property or the property of any employee or student; 2) intentionally or knowingly enters or remains on educational institution property to interfere with the lawful use of the property or to deny or interfere with the lawful use of the property by others; or 3) intentionally or knowingly refuses to obey a lawful order as outlined. The outlined prohibited acts are not required to be directed at a specific individual, educational institution or any specific property of an educational institution to constitute a violation. A person who commits interference with or disruption of an educational institution by threatening to cause physical injury or damage to property as outlined is guilty of a class 6 felony. A person who commits interference with or disruption of an educational institution by entering or remaining on educational institution property to interfere as outlined or by refusing to obey a lawful order is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
Interference with or disruption of includes any act that might reasonably lead to the evacuation or closure of any property of the educational institution or the postponement, cancellation or suspension of any class or other school activity. An actual evacuation, closure, postponement, cancellation or suspension is not required for the act to be considered an interference or a disruption (A.R.S. § 13-2911).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Classifies, as a class 1 misdemeanor, rather than a class 6 felony, interference with or disruption of an educational institution for persons under 18 years old who threaten to cause physical injury to a person on educational institution property or cause damage to educational institution property or the property of a student or employee.
2. Redefines interference with or disruption of to:
a) include any act that might reasonably lead to the evacuation or closure of any property of the educational institution or the rescheduling, cancellation or suspension of any class or other school activity; and
b) not include the normal procedures that a school district or law enforcement agency engages in and that pertain to investigating or disciplining a student.
3. Removes the specification from the definition of interference or disruption of that an actual evacuation, closure, postponement, cancelation or suspension is not required for the act to be considered an interference or disruption.
4. Makes technical and conforming changes.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
JUD 1/29/26 W/D
GOV 2/11/26 DP 4-3-0-0
3rd Read 2/26/26 32-22-6
Prepared by Senate Research
March 9, 2026
MH/KP/hk