AZ SB1196

Student journalists in public schools, community colleges, and universities have freedom of speech and press in school-sponsored media regardless of financial support or school facilities used.

Student supervisors determine the content of school-sponsored media, and student media advisers may teach professional journalism and English standards without restricting protected speech.

Schools may restrict content only if it is libelous, slanderous, invades privacy, violates law, or materially disrupts school operations; prior restraint is prohibited and schools bear the burden of justification.

Student journalists cannot be disciplined and media advisers cannot be dismissed, suspended, or retaliated against for protecting or refusing to infringe on constitutionally protected speech.

School districts and charter schools must adopt a written policy with content standards consistent with constitutional protections (except prohibiting lewd and obscene content) and a student journalist code of ethics; schools are immune from liability for student expression in school-sponsored media.