Assigned to JUD FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1049
parents' bill of rights; violation
Purpose
Grants the parent or legal guardian of a minor child legal standing to sue any person who
violates the Arizona Parents' Bill of Rights and allows the Attorney General (AG) or county
attorney to initiate a suit against a school that commits a violation.
Background
The Arizona Parents’ Bill of Rights reserves certain rights to the parent of a minor child
without interference from a government entity, including the right of a parent to: 1) direct the
education of the child; 2) direct the upbringing of the child; 3) direct the moral or religious training
of the child; 4) make health care decisions for the child; 5) access and review all medical records
of the child unless otherwise prohibited by law; 6) consent in writing to a biometric scan, or the
creation of a blood or deoxyribonucleic acid record of the child; 7) consent in writing before a
government entity makes a video or voice recording of the child, with certain exceptions; 8) be
notified when a government employee suspects that a criminal offense has been committed against
the child; and 9) obtain information about a child safety services investigation involving the parent
(A.R.S. § 1-603).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Grants the parent or legal guardian of a minor child legal standing to sue any person who
violates the parent's or legal guardian's rights under the Arizona Parents' Bill of Rights.
2. Allows the AG or county attorney, if a school district or charter school is alleged to have
committed a violation, to initiate a suit against the school in the superior court of the county in
which the school is located.
3. Allows the court to impose a civil penalty of not more than $5,000 for each violation on the
school district or charter school where the violation occurred.
4. Classifies a violation of the Arizona Parents' Bill of Rights as a class 2 misdemeanor.
5. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
January 25, 2022
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