disruption; educational institution; concealed weapon, the official text

PREFILED    DEC 19 2025

REFERENCE TITLE: disruption; educational institution; concealed weapon

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1068

Introduced by

Senator
Rogers

AN
ACT

amending section 13-2911, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to offenses against public order.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 13-2911, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-2911. Interference with or disruption of an educational institution; violation;
classification; definitions

A. A person commits interference with or disruption
of an educational institution by doing any of the following:

1. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly
interfering with or disrupting the normal operations of an educational
institution by either:

(a) Threatening to cause physical injury to any
employee or student of an educational institution or any person on the property
of an educational institution.

(b) Threatening to cause damage to any educational
institution, the property of any educational institution or the property of any
employee or student of an educational institution.

2. Intentionally or knowingly entering or remaining
on the property of any educational institution for the purpose of interfering
with the lawful use of the property or in any manner as to deny or interfere
with the lawful use of the property by others.

3. Intentionally or knowingly refusing to obey a
lawful order given pursuant to subsection C of this section.

B. To constitute a violation of this section, the
acts that are prohibited by subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section are not
required to be directed at a specific individual, a specific educational
institution or any specific property of an educational institution.

C. The chief administrative officer of an
educational institution or an officer or employee designated by the chief
administrative officer to maintain order may order a person to leave the
property of the educational institution if the officer or employee has
reasonable grounds to believe either that:

1. Any person or persons are committing any act that
interferes with or disrupts the lawful use of the property by others at the
educational institution.

2. Any person has entered on the property of an educational
institution for the purpose of committing any act that interferes with or
disrupts the lawful use of the property by others at the educational
institution.

D. The appropriate governing board of every
educational institution shall adopt rules pursuant to title 41, chapter 6 for the maintenance of maintaining public
order on all property of any educational institution under its jurisdiction
that is used for educational purposes and shall provide a program for the enforcement of enforcing its
rules. The rules shall govern the conduct of students, faculty and
other staff and all members of the public while on the property of the
educational institution. Penalties for [violations of] violating the rules shall be clearly set forth and enforced.
Penalties shall include provisions for the ejection of a violator from the
property and, in the case of a student, faculty member or other staff violator,
the violator's suspension or expulsion or any other appropriate disciplinary
action. A governing board shall amend its rules as necessary to
ensure the maintenance of public order. Any deadly weapon, dangerous
instrument or explosive that is used, displayed or possessed by a person in
violation of a rule adopted pursuant to this subsection shall be forfeited and
sold or otherwise disposed of pursuant to section 13-3105 and chapter 39
of this title.  This subsection does not do either of the following:

1. Preclude school districts from conducting
approved gun safety programs on school campuses.

2. Apply to private universities, colleges, high
schools or common schools or other private educational institutions.

E. An educational institution is not eligible to
receive any state aid or assistance unless rules are adopted in accordance with
this section.

F. This section does not prevent or limit the
authority of the governing board of any educational institution to discharge
any employee or expel, suspend or otherwise punish any student for any violation of violating its rules, even
though the violation is unlawful under this chapter or is otherwise an offense.

G. Notwithstanding subsection d of
this section, the governing board of any university, college or community
college shall not enact or enforce any policy or rule that prohibits either of
the following:

1. The possession of a concealed
weapon by a person who possesses a valid permit that is recognized or issued
pursuant to section 13-3112.

2. The lawful transportation or
lawful storage of a firearm pursuant to section 12-781.

[G.] h. This
section may be enforced by any peace officer in this state wherever and
whenever a violation occurs.

[H.] i. Restitution
under sections 8-341, 8-345 and 13-603 applies to any
financial loss that is suffered by a person or educational institution as a
result of a violation of this section.

[I.] j. Notwithstanding
section 15-341 and subsection D of this section, the governing board of
an educational institution may not adopt or enforce any policy or rule that
prohibits the lawful possession or carrying of a deadly weapon on a public
right-of-way by a person or on or within a person's means of
transportation.

[J.] k. Interference
with or disruption of an educational institution pursuant to subsection A,
paragraph 1 of this section is a class 6 felony. Interference with or
disruption of an educational institution pursuant to subsection A, paragraph 2
or 3 of this section is a class 1 misdemeanor.

[K.] l. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Educational
institution" means, except as otherwise provided, any university, college,
community college, high school or common school in this state.

2. "Governing board" means the body,
whether appointed or elected, that has responsibility for the maintenance and
government of an educational institution.

3. "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.  For the purposes of this
paragraph, an actual evacuation, closure, postponement, cancellation or
suspension is not required for the act to be considered an interference or
disruption.

4. "Property of an educational
institution" means all land, buildings and other facilities that are
owned, operated or controlled by the governing board of an educational
institution and that are devoted to educational purposes.

5. "Public right-of-way" means
any highway, street, road, thoroughfare, path, alley or other right-of-way
that is publicly accessible and that is established and maintained by this
state or a political subdivision of this state. Public right-of-way
does not include property of an educational institution.