SB1189 Summary

• Adds section 12-2203 to Arizona Revised Statutes establishing standards for admissibility of expert opinion testimony in civil and criminal actions.

• Requires expert witnesses to be qualified based on knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education on the subject matter.

• Sets five foundational requirements: testimony must assist the trier of fact, be based on sufficient facts and data, rely on reliable principles and methods, and apply those methods reliably to the case facts.

• Directs courts to consider four factors when evaluating admissibility: whether the opinion and basis can be tested, have been subjected to peer review, have a known error rate, and are generally accepted in the scientific community.