UA Engages on Several Bills Impacting University Operations

Feb. 8, 2022
State Relations

 

As of February 4, 2022, the Arizona Legislature introduced 1,533 bills, more are expected to be introduced by the February 10 deadline. University of Arizona State Relations has already begun lobbying many of the bills that impact university operations. The Arizona Board of Regents’ (ABOR) policy requires that the Board take a formal position on bills prior to the university formally engaging on legislation, whether it be supporting, opposing, or amending. The Board has already taken positions on 9 bills and will hold a special meeting on February 10 to consider several more that have been introduced over the last few weeks. Below is a summary of key bills UA will be lobbying throughout the session.

HB 2031 (higher education; individuals with disabilities) 

Sponsor: Rep. Udall (Phoenix – East Valley)

Position: Support with an amendment

  • Details the documentation that a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona Board of Regents or a community college must accept to establish that an individual seeking admission has a disability.

HB 2276 state law; violation; schools; universities

Sponsor: Rep. Fillmore (Pinal County – Casa Grande)

Position: Oppose

  • Requires the Attorney General, at the request of a member of the Legislature, to investigate any official action taken by the Arizona Board of Regents, university, community college, charter school, or school district school that the member alleges violates state law or the state Constitution.

HB 2322 hazing; hazing paraphernalia; offense

Sponsor: Rep. Kavanagh (North Phoenix)

Position: Support with clarifying amendment

  • Establishes hazing as a class 1 misdemeanor if a person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly, for the purpose of pledging, initiating, holding office, continuing, or enhancing membership/status causes, coerces, or forces a minor to do the following in an organization:
    • violate state or federal law
    • consume any food, non-alcoholic liquid, alcoholic liquid, or drug
    • endure physical brutality:
      • whipping
      • beating
      • paddling
      • striking
      • branding
      • electric shock
      • placing harmful substances on the body
      • calisthenics or exposure to the elements
    • endure mental brutality, sleep deprivation, confinement in a small space, exclusion from social contact, or conduct that could result in extreme embarrassment
    • endure sexual humiliation or brutality
    • endure any other activity where it is reasonably likely a student will be physically injured
  • Increases the criminal classification to a class 4 felony if hazing results in a person's death.
  • Does not apply to reasonable and customary athletic, law enforcement, military training, contests, competitions, or events. Provides exceptions for when a person CAN NOT be charged for hazing or possessing/using hazing paraphernalia.

HB 2447 firearms; universities; community colleges; campus

Sponsor: Rep. Nguyen (Phoenix – West Valley)

Position: Oppose

  • Prohibits ABOR or a community college from adopting a policy that prohibits a faculty member or registered student from carrying a firearm on campus with a valid permit.
  • Requires the student or faculty member to register their firearm with the administration.
  • Requires the administration to adopt and enforce guidelines for using a firearm in an active shooter situation. 

SB 1115 in-state student status; veterans

Sponsor: Rep Borrelli (Mohave County)

Position: Support

  • Expands eligibility for classification as an in-state student for veterans using federal educational assistance to include education assistance under the federal Veteran Readiness and Employment Program and the federal Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance Program.

SB 1123 disruption; educational institution; concealed weapon

Sponsor: Sen. Rogers (Red Mountain Area)

Position: Oppose

  • Prohibits the governing board of any university, college, or community college from enacting or enforcing any policy or rule that prohibits the possession of a concealed weapon by a person who possesses a valid permit.

SB 1271 Arizona veterinary loan assistance program

Sponsor: Sen. Shope (Pinal County – Casa Grande)

Position: Support

  • Establishes the Arizona Veterinary Loan Assistance Program within the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) for those who obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from a veterinary college after January 1, 2023, participants must agree to remain and work as a full-time veterinarian in Arizona for four years.
  • Appropriates $5 million from the general fund in FY2022-23 to the Arizona Veterinary Loan Assistance Fund.

SCR 1004 tuition; postsecondary education

Sponsor: Sen. Ugenti-Rita (Scottsdale)

Position: Oppose

  • Reverses SCR1004 passed in 2021 that grants in-state tuition to DACA students.