REFERENCE TITLE: school resources; religious purpose; prohibition

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-third Legislature

Second Regular Session

2018

 

HB 2143

 

Introduced by

Representatives Cardenas: Clark

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending Title 15, chapter 5, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-511.01; relating to school employees.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


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

Section 1. Title 15, chapter 5, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-511.01, to read:

START_STATUTE15-511.01.  Use of school district or charter school resources or employees for a religious purpose; prohibition; definition

A.  A person acting on behalf of a school district or charter school or a person who aids another person acting on behalf of a school district or charter school may not spend or use school district or charter school resources, including monies, accounts, credit, facilities, vehicles, postage, telecommunications, computer hardware and software, web pages, personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or any other thing of value of the school district or charter school, for a religious purpose.

B.  An employee of a school district or charter school who is acting as an agent of or working in an official capacity for the school district or charter school may not give pupils written religious materials.

C.  This section does not deny the civil and religious liberties of any person as guaranteed by the United States and Arizona Constitutions.

D.  The attorney general shall publish and distribute to school districts and charter schools detailed guidelines regarding activities prohibited under this section.  The attorney general may distribute these guidelines through a website or electronically.

E.  The attorney general or the county attorney for the county in which an alleged violation of this section occurs may initiate a suit in the superior court in the county in which the school district or charter school is located for the purpose of complying with this section.

F.  An attorney acting on behalf of a school district or charter school may request a legal opinion of the county attorney or attorney general as to whether a proposed use of school district or charter school resources would violate this section.

G.  For the purposes of this section, "religious purpose" means any action that promotes a particular religion or religious view and includes creating, posting and distributing religious flyers, religious meeting notices or any other type of religious information or paraphernalia. END_STATUTE