REFERENCE TITLE: study committee; student-led school clubs

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

SB 1677

Introduced by

Senators Epstein: Diaz, Fernandez, Gabaldón, Marsh, Miranda, Terán

An Act

establishing the student-led school clubs study committee.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

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

Section 1. Student-led school clubs study committee; membership; duties; report; delayed repeal; definition

A. The student-led school clubs study committee is established.

B. Any member of the legislature may opt to join the study committee, provided that there must always be an equal number of legislators from each political party on the study committee. 

C. In addition to the members described in subsection B of this section, the study committee consists of the following members:

1. Two students who attend a charter school in this state, who have an interest in student-led school clubs and who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

2. Two parents of students who attend a charter school in this state who have an interest in student-led school clubs and who are appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives.

3. Two students who attend a school that is operated by a school district in this state, who have an interest in student-led school clubs and who are appointed by the president of the senate.

4. Two parents of students who attend a school that is operated by a school district in this state who have an interest in student-led school clubs and who are appointed by the minority leader of the senate.

D. The majority leader of the house of representatives and the minority leader of the house of representatives shall each appoint one member to serve as cochairpersons of the study committee.

E. The study committee shall consider legislative proposals to require publicly funded schools to allow student-led school clubs to operate and recruit on campus, provided that fair conditions are met.  The members may vote on various considerations and may recommend legislative action.  The result of these votes may inform potential bill sponsors but may not have any other impact.  The study committee shall actively seek questions and comments on student-led school clubs from the public, education-focused organizations and education experts in person and via teleconference, letters and digital communications.

F. The study committee shall consider and make recommendations regarding the following process:

1. A student desiring to begin or continue a student-led school club shall apply in any format to the publicly funded school.  The application shall describe all of the following:

(a) The mission of the club.

(b) How students will be recruited to the club.

(c) How students will make decisions with the members of the club and for the pursuits of the club.

2. If any of the descriptions included under paragraph 1 of this subsection would violate school policies, school officials may disallow the club or may close an existing club, but the following may not be used to disallow or close a club:

(a) Religious views, unless allowing the club would violate the state or federal constitution.  

(b) Political views.

(c) Peer support for the LGBTQ community, the disability community, any race or culture or any other community in which students feel they are misunderstood.

3. A school official may disallow or close a student-led school club any time if the actions or communications of the club do or are likely to promote violence, hate, distrust or disrespect for any students, faculty, staff or other people. 

G. In addition to the process described in subsection F of this section, the study committee may consider and make recommendations regarding any other factor that is considered in requiring a publicly funded school to allow student-led school clubs to operate and recruit on campus.

H. On or before July 1, 2024, the study committee shall submit a report regarding its findings and recommendations to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

I. This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2024.

J. For the purposes of this section, "publicly funded school":

1. Means a school or an educator that accepts monies from this state.

2. Includes:

(a) A school that is operated by a school district.

(b) A charter school.

(c) A school or educator that accepts Arizona empowerment scholarship account monies.

(d) A school or educator that accepts monies from students who received a student tuition organization scholarship.