REFERENCE TITLE: technical correction; education; parental rights

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

HB 2692

Introduced by

Representative Heap

An Act

amending section 15-113, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to public schools.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Section 15-113, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE15-113. Rights of parents; public educational institutions; definitions

A. A parent of a student in a public educational institution has the right to review learning materials and activities in advance. A parent who objects to any learning material or activity on the basis that the material or activity is harmful may request to withdraw that parent's student from the activity or from the class or program in which the material is used and request an alternative assignment.

B. A charter school may require parents to waive the right to object to learning materials or activities pursuant to subsection A of this section as a condition of enrollment if the charter school provides a complete list of books and materials to be used each school year before the student enrolls.  If the charter school introduces books or materials that were not disclosed prior to before enrollment, the parent retains the right to object to those materials pursuant to subsection A of this section.

C. A charter school may require that any request to review learning materials or activities or to withdraw the student from learning materials or activities pursuant to subsection A of this section be made in writing.

D. A public educational institution shall obtain signed, written consent from a student's parent or guardian before doing either of the following:

1. Using video, audio or electronic materials that may be inappropriate for the age of the student.

2. Providing sex education instruction to the student.  At the same time the public educational institution seeks consent, it shall inform the student's parent or guardian of the parent's or guardian's right to review the instructional learning materials and activities.

E. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Objects to any learning material or activity on the basis that the material or activity is harmful" means objecting to the material or activity because of sexual content, violent content or profane or vulgar language.

2. "Public educational institution" means any of the following:

(a) A school district, including its schools.

(b) A charter school.

(c) An accommodation school.

(d) The Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind.END_STATUTE