Assigned to ED FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1321
public schools; patriotic organizations
Purpose
Prohibits a school district or charter school from preventing representatives of an eligible
patriotic youth membership organization (patriotic organization) from engaging in outlined student
recruitment activities. Outlines patriotic organization eligibility requirements and prescribes
requirements for a school district or charter school relating to student recruitment by a patriotic
organization.
Background
A school district governing board may lease, and a charter school may allow the use of,
school buildings, grounds, buses and equipment to any person, group or organization for any
lawful purpose, including recreational, educational, political, economic, artistic, moral, scientific,
social, religious or other civic or governmental purposes in the interest of the community. A school
district governing board must, and a charter school may, charge a reasonable use fee for the
utilization of the school property (A.R.S. §§ 15-183 and 15-1105).
U.S. Code designates various federally chartered corporations as Patriotic and National
Organizations, including: 1) Big Brothers—Big Sisters of America; 2) Boy Scouts of America;
3) Boys & Girls Clubs of America; 4) Civil Air Patrol; 5) Future Farmers of America; 6) Girls
Scouts of the United States of America; 7) Little League Baseball; 8) Marine Corps League; and
9) Naval Sea Cadet Corps (36 U.S.C., Subtitle II, Part B).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Prohibits a school district or charter school from preventing representatives of an eligible
patriotic organization from engaging in student recruitment.
2. Prohibits a school district or charter school from imposing limits on representatives of the
patriotic organization relating to:
a) speaking with students in a classroom setting during school hours and instructional time;
b) distributing informational materials to students in a classroom setting during school hours
and instructional time;
c) providing displays at schools that include informational flyers; or
d) providing information about the patriotic organization through the school district's or
charter school's existing communication channels. FACT SHEET
S.B. 1321
Page 2
3. Deems a patriotic organization as eligible to engage in student recruitment if the patriotic
organization:
a) serves individuals who are younger than 21 years old;
b) has an educational purpose that promotes patriotism and civic involvement; and
c) is one of the following patriotic organizations, or the state affiliate of the patriotic
organization:
i. Big Brothers—Big Sisters of America;
ii. Boy Scouts of America;
iii. Boys & Girls Clubs of America;
iv. Civil Air Patrol;
v. Future Farmers of America;
vi. Girl Scouts of the United States of America;
vii. Little League Baseball;
viii. Marine Corps League; or
ix. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.
4. Requires, if and after an eligible patriotic organization requests to engage in authorized
activities at one or more schools operated by a school district or charter school, the school
district or charter school to:
a) schedule a date and time during which representatives of the patriotic organization may
engage in the activities; and
b) if the patriotic organization requests to speak with students, notify the parents and
guardians of all students about the scheduled speaking engagement and provide to parents
and guardians the opportunity to opt the student out of the speaking engagement.
5. Prohibits a school district or charter school from discriminating against an eligible patriotic
organization in the use of school facilities for student recruitment outside of the normal school
day.
6. Specifies that outlined requirements relating to school district and charter schools allowing
patriotic organization recruitment do not require a school district or charter school to allow a
patriotic organization that is not an eligible patriotic organization to engage in student
recruitment, except to the extent required by federal law.
7. Defines patriotism as support for the U.S. Constitution and American Government.
8. Defines student recruitment as activities that:
a) encourage student participation in the patriotic organization and the patriotic organization's
activities;
b) inform students about how the patriotic organization may further a student's educational
interests and civic involvement; or
c) inform students about how the patriotic organization may better a student's school,
community and self.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 10, 2025
MH/SDR/ci