PREFILED JAN 09 2020
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REFERENCE TITLE: universities; community colleges; constitutions; instruction |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fourth Legislature Second Regular Session 2020
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HB 2141 |
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Introduced by Representative Kern
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AN ACT
amending Title 15, chapter 14, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 15-1810; relating to postsecondary institutions.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 15, chapter 14, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 15-1810, to read:
15-1810. Course on constitutions of the United States and Arizona; degree requirement; exception; definitions
A. In establishing curricula and designating courses pursuant to section 15-1626, subsection A, paragraph 8 and section 15-1445, paragraph 5, each university and each community college in this state shall offer a course of instruction on the constitutions of the United States and Arizona, with special emphasis on the bill of rights. This course shall have a credit value of at least six semester hours, or the equivalent. The Arizona board of regents and each community college district shall include the name and course number of the course on the constitutions in the annual reports prescribed in sections 15-1427 and 15-1629, respectively.
B. Except as provided by subsection D of this section, a university or community college may not grant a baccalaureate degree or a lesser degree or academic certificate to any person unless the person has completed and earned credit for the course offered pursuant to subsection A of this section. A university or community college may determine that a student has satisfied this requirement in whole or in part on the basis of credit granted to the student by the university or community college for a substantially equivalent course completed at another accredited university or college or on the basis of the student's successful completion of an advanced standing examination administered on the conditions and under the circumstances common for the university's or community college's advanced standing examinations. A university or community college may grant up to three semester hours of credit or its equivalent toward satisfaction of this requirement for substantially equivalent work completed by the student in the program of an approved senior reserve officer training corps unit.
C. The requirement of subsection A of this section that the course include instruction on the constitution of Arizona does not apply to a degree granted on completion of an academic program offered by a medical and dental unit of a university or community college to a student who is a member of the armed forces of the United States, including the reserves or national guard, if all of the following apply:
1. The program is operated by the medical and dental unit under contract with the United States Army.
2. The program requires less than two years of residency in this state.
3. The principal participants in the program are military personnel stationed outside this state.
D. If a student is enrolled in a dual baccalaureate degree program under a contract with a foreign university or college, the Arizona board of regents may exempt the student from the course requirement prescribed in subsection A of this section if the student meets both of the following requirements:
1. Enrolled in the foreign university or college before enrolling in the dual degree program or is otherwise considered to be primarily a student of the foreign university or college.
2. Successfully completes the American way course described in subsection E of this section at the university the student attends or, with the approval of that university, at another university or community college that offers the course.
E. Each university that offers a dual degree program as described in subsection D of this section shall offer an American way course that is designed to provide a foreign student with a familiarity and understanding of United States government and civic life and their sources, development and character. The course must consist of four semester credit hours, with one semester credit hour in practicum activities intended to provide the student with experience in the three branches of government through participation at the federal, state or local level. The course may not be taken for course credit by a student other than a student described by subsection D of this section. The course shall focus on all of the following:
1. Important texts, including the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence.
2. The works and contributions of influential authors, political and cultural leaders and other important figures.
3. Important events and developments in United States history.
4. Important developments in human and civil rights, including the civil rights movement and the history of women's rights.
5. The history and development of this state and its place in United States history and culture.
F. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Community college" has the same meaning prescribed in section 15-1401.
2. "University" means a university under the jurisdiction of the Arizona board of regents.