HB 2759
Initials CH Page 1 House Engrossed
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: ED DPA 7-1-2-0
HB 2759: student organizations; terrorism; withholding monies
Sponsor: Representative Hernandez A, LD 20
House Engrossed
Overview
Prohibits a public university or community college (institution of higher education) from
formally recognizing a student organization that supports or promotes a foreign terrorist
organization (FTO), vocally supports genocide or engages in activities that manifest evidence
of prejudice based on antisemitism as specified.
History
Federal law empowers the U.S. Secretary of State (U.S. SOS) with the authority to designate
an organization as an FTO if the U.S. SOS finds that: 1) the organization is a foreign
organization; 2) the organization engages in terrorist activity; and 3) the organization's
terrorist activity or terrorism threatens the security of U.S. nationals or the national security
(8 U.S.C. § 1189). The U.S. State Department maintains a list of designated FTOs (U.S. State
Department).
Under state law, terrorist organization means any organization designated by the U.S. State
Department as an FTO. Statute declares it is unlawful for a person to intentionally or
knowingly commit specified acts of terrorism, including providing advice, assistance or
direction in the conduct, financing or management of a terrorist organization (A.R.S. §§ 13-
2301, 13-2308.01).
Provisions
1. Prohibits an institution of higher education from formally recognizing a student
organization that:
a) provides material support to an FTO, including an FTO that calls for genocide against
the Jewish people;
b) vocally supports, calls for or advocates for genocide, including genocide against the
Jewish people;
c) promotes an FTO in any manner that places a Jewish student in reasonable
apprehension of imminent physical injury;
d) promotes an FTO on its social media accounts or communication platforms; or
e) engages in activities that manifest evidence of prejudice based on antisemitism.
2. Requires an institution of higher education to enforce its code of conduct, including
provisions regarding violent speech on campus.
3. Directs an institution of higher education to fully investigate the activities of any student
organization that has been reported for a potential violation of:
a) federal laws relating to providing material support or resources to terrorists or
designated FTOs; or
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b) any state law relating to supporting an FTO.
4. Instructs an institution of higher education to:
a) require the faculty advisor of each formally recognized student organization to report
any potential violation of the specified federal or state laws; and
b) discipline a faculty advisor who knowingly violates the requirement to report any
potential violation of the specified federal or state laws.
5. Mandates an institution of higher education rescind formal recognition of any student
organization determined to have violated the specified federal or state laws.
6. Defines FTO, institution of higher education and antisemitism.