Vandalism
Actress Vanessa Hudgens (High School Musical, Grease Live) may have to pay a fine and pay restitution or appear in court for carving her name and the name of her boyfriend into red rock in Sedona. The incident occurred in February 2016 around Valentine’s Day. Damaging a natural feature on U.S. Forest Service land is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a maximum $5,000 fine.
Technology
Many Arizona schools now have social media accounts such as Facebook. Photos of school events, highlights of student success, student names and locations are posted. There are concerns that photos posted by public school may increase risks for student’s privacy and safety. Read more!
Artificial intelligence is being developed for the education system. Technology apps are tools that can monitor student learning and predict outcomes. AIF can learn what students are interested in and formulate math problems or reading examples on the topics of interest. Protecting student privacy is a concern as well as maintaining human interaction. Read more!
Schools in Arizona are required to have policies for bullying, intimidation, and harassment on school property or school sponsored events. Arizona does not require schools to have anti-bullying policies for cyberbullying that occurs off school campus. Read more here and here!
The Kids Online Safety Act is being proposed in federal legislation. (Read More) By providing more control options for both users under 16 and parents of minors who are using platforms, this bill expands upon the existing Child Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) that protects minors under 13 from having personal data collected. The Kids Online Safety Act would prevent platforms from promoting harmful behaviors, ban certain harmful content, provide more parent control options such as limiting screen time and require platforms to make public reports on potential risks to minors from the content on their website.
Instagram has a new flagging feature to report false posts, inappropriate content and false information. To reduce the amount of misinformation around Covid-19, major social media platforms have taken steps to remove conspiracy theories, inaccurate health advice, cures and myths relating to the pandemic. Read more here.
In 1994, The Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) was formed by a coalition of the major video game publishers with the goal of creating a ratings system. The initial system created had 5 categories. The categories later expanded to seven. Read More!
Social media sites, such as Facebook, are facing the issue of fake profiles, fake news, and other harmful actions. Some people believe it is the responsibility of the social media site to take action to prevent the controversial acts and others think that the user posting the material should be held responsible.
Civil Responsibility
During the 2020 presidential election, 3.4 million votes were cast across Arizona. Low-income Arizonans who earned less than $50,000 a year, cast more than 1.4 million votes. Learn more here!
The majority of Arizona tax revenue is generated through income taxes, sales, and excise taxes. The implementation of a flat tax would allow everyone to pay the same tax rate, regardless of income. Read more here!
Arizona Senate Bill 2494 prevents people from being arrested or sued if they use reasonable force to remove an animal or child left in a hot car. The bill states that people would need to first believe in good faith that the animal or child was in a harmful situation, notify the proper authorities before entering the vehicle, and stay with the victim until the authorities arrive. Governor Ducey signed the bill on May 11, 2017. Read more here! Also read SB2494
Voting Laws
Currently, citizens must be 18 to vote. Advocates for lowering the voting age to 16 state that youth should have the ability to help decide how their country should be shaped since they will be directly affected when they become adults. Opponents state that youth will not have the knowledge they need to make an informed vote.
In November 2016, singer/Actor Justin Timberlake took a selfie while voting early using a voting booth in Tennessee. He then posted the picture on social media with a message encouraging others to get out and vote. Taking pictures inside a voting booth is illegal in Tennessee and Justin Timberlake may face legal consequences. In Tennessee, the crime is a misdemeanor and consequences could include up to 30 days in jail and a $50 fine.
State or Federal
In June 2022, President Biden signed into law the Keep Kids Fed Act, which extends funding for the National School Lunch Program. While the new law extends funding, it ends the practice put in place at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic that provided free meals for all students. Some argue that free meals should be continued to help students, while others disagree and argue that it is expensive and wasteful. Read more here!
Zoos enable people to visit all kinds of animals. Some feel that it isn’t right to keep certain animals in captivity, while others feel it is a way to preserve wild animals. Canada has a proposed law making it illegal to keep elephants and great apes in zoos. Read more here and here!
In May 2016, the Obama Administration enacted a policy that was intended to prohibit the discrimination of transgender students in public schools. The nationwide policy allowed transgender students to use bathrooms on campus that aligned with their gender identity. In February 2017, the Trump Administration cancelled this policy and has determined that each state should enact their own policies regarding transgender bathrooms.
Arizona
A proposed amendment to the Arizona Constitution (HCR2004) could change the requirements to be a member of the Arizona state legislature. If passed, it would lower the age to serve as a representative of their community from 25 to 18 years of age. Read about the proposal here!
Trial by jury is a vital part of democracy and is secured by both the United States and Arizona Constitutions. In January 2022, the Arizona Supreme Court eliminated peremptory challenges. Peremptory challenges allow lawyers to dismiss jurors without stating the cause for dismissal. Read more here!
After a near 30-year drought, Arizona is facing issues with its long-term water supply. One proposal from the Arizona Department of Water Resources would be to require reductions in the amount of water that golf courses can use. Read more here!
In March 2022 a law was passed that states cities may prohibit the use of legal fireworks from 11 pm to 8 am. during allowed seasons (New Years, Cinco de Mayo, and Independence Day). However, on New Year’s Eve and Independence Day the time restriction was extended to 1am. Consumer fireworks are not permitted on other days of the year. Read more here!
On January 1, 2023, Arizona’s minimum wage increased from $12.80 to $13.85 an hour. Flagstaff’s minimum wage increased to $16.80 an hour. Read more about Flagstaff’s minimum wage here. Those who support the increase say that it is essential for workers to make a living wage. Those who oppose the increase argue that some small business owners cannot afford to pay workers more. Read more about the minimum wage here!
Arizona does not allow 14 and 15 year olds to work in jobs that require cooking or baking. Learn more here. Other states, such as Oregon, are allowing this age group to work in the fast-food industry to compensate for the shortage of workers. Read more here!
There is a resolution in the Arizona House of Representatives to proclaim April 5, “Golden Rule Day” starting in 2022. The proclamation encourages Arizonans to treat others the way they would like to be treated. Currently there are 8 Golden Rule Cities in Arizona that celebrate April 5. Read more here!
On April 10, 2018, Governor Doug Ducey approved Senate Bill 1517 that made Sonorasaurus the State Dinosaur. The bill was inspired by an 11 year old boy who wrote a letter to Governor Ducey advocating for the state symbol. 42 states have state dinosaurs or fossils. Read more here! Also read SB1517.
Education
Arizona Native language and culture teachers believe a student is more engaged at school when connections to a student’s culture, language, and community are included in the curriculum. Students are able to embrace diversity which creates a positive learning environment. Read more here! Some schools include cultural studies during specific times of the year but not everyday.
Arizona law states students must obey the rules and submit to the authority of the teachers, the administrators, and the governing board. Students may receive appropriate discipline such as suspension or expulsion if unable to do so. See Arizona Revised statute 15-481.
In April 2021, Governor Doug Ducey approved House Bill 2705 that prohibits school district governing boards, charter school governing bodies, and public schools from creating a dress code policy that prohibits students from wearing tribal regalia at their graduation ceremony. Read more here! Also read HB2705.
Arizona Law requires students between 6 and 16 to attend school. 5 unexcused absences during the school year is considered “Habitually Truant”. If a student is absent 10% of the required school days, it is considered “Excessive Absence”. Parents can be charged with a Class 3 Misdemeanor with a possible max. 30 days jail sentence or max. $300 fine. See Arizona Revised statute 15-803.
In Arizona, kindergarten is not required for children under the age of six. It is optional for parents to enroll their children in kindergarten classes. Read more here!
Some schools will offer online learning and some will offer in-person learning. Arizonans have protested both options. On one side, the public wants to have the choice to send their students to school and feel that the risks of students staying home are worse than the risks associated with students getting exposed to COVID-19 at school. Read more here. On the other side, the public wants to take extra precautions when it comes to their students’ health and feel that all benchmarks must be met in order for students to return to school. Read more here.
In April 2019, the Arizona Governor signed the Financial Literacy Bill, S.B. 1184, into law creating a new requirement for high school students to pass a financial literacy class in order to graduate. The law requires at least one-half of a course credit in economics and that class must include financial literacy and personal financial management. Read more here!
House Bill 2119 passed in May 2019, requiring schools to create policies and procedures for reporting crimes and threatening conduct. Specifically, the schools are required to alert parents of students involved in this behavior. Read more here!
In January 2018 several students from an Arizona Junior High School posted a video to SnapChat that showed them chanting racist comments. The school chose not to discipline the students at school since the incident did not occur on school campus. Many of the school community members are angry about the school’s decision. Read more here!
A high school student in Alabama invited his grandmother to his school prom as his date. The school will not allow the student to bring his grandmother to the dance due to maximum age restrictions. The school has stated that the restrictions are in place to protect the students at the dance. Read more here!
On April 5, 2018, Governor Ducey signed a bill that requires schools to provide at least 2 recess periods for students in grades kindergarten through 5th. Additionally, schools could not remove recess as a consequence for behavior unless the student's parent pre-approved the consequence. Read more here! Also read SB1083.
Starting in the Fall semester of 2018, Arizona elementary schools will be required to teach cursive handwriting through the 5th grade. Read more here!
College
In May 2021, the former Governor of Arizona, Governor Ducey, signed a bill into law that allows local community colleges the opportunity to offer four-year degrees in certain programs. This expanded opportunities for all students by providing them with more skills and preparing them to join the workforce. Read more here!
In 2021, the Arizona Legislature approved the Promise Program to help low-income students who are Arizona residents and graduates of an Arizona high school, pay for college. The program will provide eligible students with guaranteed scholarships to cover tuition and fees at Arizona public universities. Read more here!
In April 2017, the state of New York approved free tuition for students whose families make less than $100,000 a year. New York is the first state to offer free tuition for public colleges and universities in their state. To qualify for free tuition, students must make good grades, be enrolled full time and average at least 30 credits a year.
1st Amendment
In June 2021, the United States Supreme Court ruled that a former cheerleader who wrote a Snapchat post that included profanity about her school, is protected by the First Amendment. The Court decided that schools have the power to punish student speech that occurs online if it disrupts classroom study but did not find the former cheerleader’s post to be disruptive. Read more here!
In August 2016, Colin Kaepernick, who at the time was a quarterback for the 49ers football team, decided to kneel during the National Anthem that is played prior to the start of the game. Mr. Kaepernick has stated that he has chosen to kneel as a protest against oppression and police brutality.
In recent events, high school students have staged ‘walk-outs’ and protests in an effort to show their displeasure with political events and/or candidates.
Status Offenses
The National Youth Rights Association is advocating for opposition of curfew laws. They site reasons such as violation of youth rights, curfews not effective in reducing juvenile crime, and curfews punish non-criminal youth behavior. Read more here! Currently, Arizona allows for each city or town to enact their own curfew ordinances. The intent is to prevent juveniles from being victims of crime. Learn more about Arizona curfews here!
Juvenile Justice
In Arizona, youth can be adjudicated (receive a judgement in court) in juvenile court between the ages of 8-17. Read more here!
Did you know that a juvenile’s right to an attorney originated from an Arizona case that made it all the way to the Supreme Court? In In re Gault (1967), the Supreme Court ruled that juveniles have the right to due process which includes the right to an attorney. However, this ruling did not require states to create a public defender’s office specifically for juveniles. Learn more here.
In May 2018 Governor Ducey signed a bill that allowed youth who are 17 and accused of a crime to remain in the juvenile justice system until the age of 19. Previously, a youth could be transferred to adult court if they were 17 at the time of the alleged criminal action. Read more here!
Drug Use
Lawsuits are being filed from Arizona School Districts and an Arizona teen against the company Juul. The claims are that Juul’s advertisements are directed at youth and are contributing to teen nicotine addiction. Read more here!
After a national outbreak in vaping-related illnesses and deaths, Goodyear has become the first city in Arizona to raise the legal vaping age to 21 years old. As of September 23rd 2019, there is a prohibition on sales of tobacco smoking and vaping materials to anyone under 21 years, as well as a ban on smoking and vaping at public parks/trails and at school/school events. Read more here!
In July 2017, New Jersey raised the minimum age to buy tobacco to 21. Arizona's current law states that you must be 18 to purchase tobacco products.
In May, 2016, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) announced a regulation that would prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 and require a photo I.D. to purchase them. This regulation went into effect on August 08, 2016.
Traffic Laws
Limos are hired during prom season to transport couples to the celebration. New York’s governor signed new bills into law regulating limousine safety features, such as seatbelts, due to a fatal limousine crash involving 20 people. Arizona passengers are not required to wear seat belts in the backseat of any vehicle, if over 16. Read more here!
In January 2019, the Arizona Legislative branch passed a bill banning wireless communication devices while driving. The fees for civil penalties start at $100 and could have a maximum penalty of $10,000. Read about HB 2069. Read more about distracted driving bills here!
An amendment to the Arizona Revised Statute on reckless driving was introduced in the House in 2019. The added words will include anyone who participates in distracting the safe operation of the vehicle. Read about HB 2165.
Some cities in Arizona allow companies to rent bikes and motorized scooters for people to use as they move about the city. Patrons can rent the item through an app and then leave it in any legal parking area when finished. Supporters enjoy the ease of renting environmentally friendly transportation to get to their destination but opponents claim that riders are not complying with city ordinances and creating a hazard.
Senate Bill 1080 states that teenage drivers cannot utilize their cell phone while driving within the first 6 months of getting their driver's license. The bill does allow the use of audible GPS however, the GPS destination cannot be entered or adjusted while the vehicle is in motion. Read more here! Also read SB1080
In November 2016, five students in Tennessee were fatally injured when their school bus was involved in an accident. Currently, Arizona laws do not require school buses to use seat belts.
4th Amendment
In November 2017, Facebook announced that they are utilizing an artificial intelligence program to monitor the social media site for patterns. For example, patterns that signal a suicidal user will result in an alert to first responders. Users cannot opt out of the program. Facebook plans on expanding their program outside of the United States; however, they cannot implement the program in the European Union due to privacy laws. Read more here!
Marriage
In January 2017, the Senate Committee in New Jersey approved a bill that would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 to get married. In Arizona, the law states that anyone aged 16 & 17 can get married with their parent's permission. If under the age of 16, marriage is allowed if they have their parent's permission AND the approval of a superior court judge.
Discrimination
A high school student in Casa Grande was taking pictures as a finalist for his school’s all male beauty contest. The student wore 8 inch high heeled platform shoes and short shorts for the photos. However, when the picture was featured in the school promotions, his photo was altered to picture the student wearing pants and dress shoes. The student feels he is facing discrimination.
Trespass
In December 2016, a man with a natural beard similar to Santa Claus, wearing a Santa hat and Christmas vest, was visiting an amusement park in California. When asked by a parent to take a photo with their children, the Santa look-alike posed for the picture and handed the young children candy canes. The amusement park employees asked the Santa look-alike to leave for breaking a park rule. For security reasons, the amusement park does not allow non employees to dress in costume while at the park. **In Arizona, a person must leave if asked by the property owner or they can be in violation of trespass laws.
School Athletics
Two schools in Arizona were scheduled to compete in a soccer game. Both teams have mostly male players however, one of the teams had 2 girls on it. The opposing team refused to play unless the two girls were removed from the game.
Travel
Effective October 1, 2021, individuals who are 18 and older must have an Arizona Travel ID or a U.S. passport for domestic airline travel or to enter restricted federal buildings and military bases. Simply having a standard Arizona driver’s license will not work. Read more here. The Arizona Travel ID was created to comply with the REAL ID Act of 2005. The purpose is to increase security and make identification documents more consistent and secure across the country. Learn more here!
Arizona is one of the first states to offer a Mobile ID, which is a digitized version of your driver's license or ID card. This could help streamline the process of keeping personal identification organized. It has been stated that this will help prevent identity theft. Read more about the Mobile ID here!
