This bill proposes amendments to section 13-2911 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, which governs offenses against public order in educational institutions. The updates include changes to the language regarding the maintenance of public order, replacing "the maintenance of" with "maintaining" and "the enforcement of" with "enforcing." Additionally, it clarifies that penalties for violating the rules will be enforced and specifies that any deadly weapon or dangerous instrument possessed in violation of these rules will be forfeited. The bill also introduces a new provision that prohibits governing boards of universities, colleges, or community colleges from enacting policies that restrict the possession of concealed weapons by individuals with valid permits or the lawful transportation and storage of firearms.

Furthermore, the bill maintains the authority of governing boards to discipline students and employees for rule violations, even if those violations are unlawful. It also ensures that educational institutions cannot adopt policies that prohibit the lawful possession of deadly weapons on public rights-of-way or within personal transportation. The enforcement of this section remains under the jurisdiction of peace officers, and restitution for financial losses due to violations is affirmed. Overall, the bill aims to clarify and update existing statutes while reinforcing the rights of individuals regarding weapon possession on educational properties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-2911