Arizona school boards would bar students with certain offenses from activities

School district boards would have to bar students from school-sponsored activities for listed offenses. The listed offenses include serious assault, certain sexual offenses, stalking, domestic violence, and incest. Similar offenses in other jurisdictions are included. The rule applies when a student has a conviction, has made a listed admission or plea, or has committed a juvenile act that would be a listed crime if committed by an adult.

School district boards would have to keep students out of school-sponsored activities while listed charges are pending. This applies to activities sponsored by the school. The school must have notice that the student has been charged with or is awaiting trial for a listed offense, or a juvenile act that would be that offense if committed by an adult. The exclusion would last until the charges are dismissed or the student is found not guilty.

School district boards would have to require students to certify whether they have a history of listed offenses. The requirement covers students who take part or seek to take part in school-sponsored activities, and includes similar offenses in other jurisdictions. The school would provide the form, and students would state whether they have a conviction, listed admission or plea, or juvenile act that would be a listed crime if committed by an adult.

The proposed school activity rules would be an exception to certain protections for juvenile court orders and dispositions. The protections generally say juvenile court orders are not criminal convictions and juvenile dispositions cannot be used outside criminal or juvenile cases. The exception refers to the proposed school activity rules in section 15-342.06.