ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-seventh Legislature

First Regular Session

House: ED DP 8-4-0-0

HB2724: patriotic youth groups; school access

Sponsor: Representative Rivero, LD 27

Caucus & COW

Overview

Permits a patriotic youth group to address public school students during regular school hours and details request procedures and material distribution requirements.

History

A youth group is a group or organization intended to serve young people under the age of 21. Federal law lists organizations that are considered patriotic societies, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts of America, Girls Scouts of America and Big Brothers-Big Sisters of America. A public elementary school, public secondary school, local educational agency or state educational agency that receives funds through the U.S. Department of Education and that has a designated open or limited public forum cannot discriminate against or deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or any other youth group listed in federal law as a patriotic society that wishes to conduct a meeting within the open or limited public forum (20 U.S.C. § 7905) (36 U.S.C. Subtitle II, Part B).

Provisions

1. Allows, during the first quarter of each academic school year, a public school principal to authorize representatives from any patriotic youth group to address students about how the group supports educational interests and civic involvement for up to 10 minutes during regular school hours. (Sec. 1)

2. Requires a patriotic youth group representative who intends to address public school students to submit a verbal or written request to the principal during the first two weeks of the academic school year. (Sec. 1)

3. Permits the principal, after receiving the request, to provide the patriotic youth group with verbal or written approval with the date and time the representative may address students. (Sec. 1)

4. Instructs the principal to ensure that any materials provided by the patriotic youth group and its representatives are distributed directly to students on school property throughout the academic school year to encourage student participation in the group. (Sec. 1)

5. Authorizes the principal to request prior access to the materials for approval and to determine the method of distribution directly to students. (Sec. 1)

6. Prohibits a public school from discriminating against or denying equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to any patriotic youth group that wishes to conduct a meeting within a designated open or limited public forum. (Sec. 1)

7. Defines patriotic youth group. (Sec. 1)

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11. HB 2724

12. Initials CH/LN Page 0 Caucus & COW

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