Criminal Justice

HB 2002 changes Arizona's parole rules for individuals sentenced to life imprisonment by requiring them to serve at least 25 years before becoming eligible for parole (for standard life sentences), while prohibiting parole entirely for natural life sentences. It repeals prior laws governing parole for life sentences and amends the parole classification system to mandate that life sentence prisoners must complete specific correctional program requirements to qualify for parole consideration. This policy directly affects all individuals convicted of crimes resulting in life imprisonment in Arizona, including those convicted of terrorism under the amended terrorism statute (ARS § 13-2308.01). The bill increases the required service time and adds program participation requirements, making parole more difficult to obtain for life sentence prisoners.

HB 2020 defines and penalizes interference with or disruption of public educational institutions in Arizona. It requires public schools, colleges, and universities to adopt rules for maintaining order on their property, with penalties including ejection, suspension, or expulsion for students and staff who violate these rules. The law classifies threatening harm as a class 1 misdemeanor for minors or a class 6 felony for adults (18+), while entering school property to disrupt operations is a class 1 misdemeanor. Private educational institutions are exempt from these requirements, and the bill explicitly preserves approved gun safety programs on campuses.