Official Summary Text
SB1066 - 572R - Senate Fact Sheet
Assigned to
JUDE������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ AS
PASSED BY COW
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh
Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
FACT SHEET FOR
S.B. 1066
civil
liability; fraudulent scientific research
Purpose
Allows the Attorney General (AG) or a county attorney to bring a civil
action against a researcher for knowingly or recklessly publishing fraudulent
scientific research and outlines certain liability exceptions.
Background
The Arizona Constitution states that civil lawsuits must be filed in the
jurisdiction in which the damage occurred or in which the defendant does
business. A civil action claim for damages over $10,000 must be filed in the
superior court, and a claim for damages less than $10,000 must be filed in a
municipal or justice court (
Ariz.
Const. art. 6 � 32
).
A person who, with a scheme or artifice to defraud, knowingly deprives a
person of honest services or who knowingly obtains any benefit by means of
false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, promises or material omissions,
is guilty of a class 2 felony (
A.R.S.
� 13-2310
).
The federal False Claims Act states that a person is liable for a civil
penalty and three times the government damages if the person: 1) knowingly
presents a false claim for payment;
2) knowingly makes a false record or statement material to a false or
fraudulent claim; or 3) has control of property or money used, or to be used,
by the government and knowingly delivers less than all of that money or
property. A person may bring about a civil action for violation of the federal
False Claims Act for the person and for the U.S. government (31 U.S.C. �
�
3729
and
3730
).
If allowing the AG to bring civil actions against fraudulent research
results in the collection of civil penalties directed to the state General Fund
(state GF), there may be a positive fiscal impact to the state GF.
Provisions
1.
Allows
the AG or a county attorney to bring a civil action against a researcher for
fraudulent scientific research or failed disclosure.
2.
Requires
these civil actions to be:
a)
proven by clear and convincing evidence; and
b)
commenced within four years after the research is published.
3.
Exempts
a researcher
from liability if the person:
a)
preregisters a scientific method, hypothesis or analysis before
conducting research;
b)
reports to applicable institutions and the public that the results were
misinterpreted or that an error was made;
c)
provides reasonable access to the study information after conclusion or
publication of the research; or
d)
posts
the methodology and data on an open access database or site.
4.
Exempts researchers from liability for any fraudulent scientific
research that was published and that was conducted at, or funded by, an
accredited university.
5.
Exempts accredited universities from liability for any such fraudulent
scientific research.
6.
Exempts drug manufacturers that are registered with the Arizona State
Board of Pharmacy from liability for any fraudulent scientific research that
was conducted at, or funded by, the drug manufacturer.
7.
Allows
the court, in an action brought against fraudulent research, to order:
a)
temporary or permanent injunctive relief;
b)
restitution to the injured party, including research institutions,
universities, funding agencies, coresearchers and persons who suffered
reputational harm, financial harm or other damages;
c)
a civil penalty of no more than $50,000; and
d)
any
other relief that the court determines to be appropriate.
8.
Requires the AG or the county attorney, in an action against fraudulent
research, to deposit civil penalties into the state GF or county general fund,
respectively.
9.
Allows
a party that suffers damages due to fraudulent research to:
a)
sue in the superior court; and
b)
recover
actual damages sustained, including the cost of the suit and reasonable
attorney fees.
10.
Becomes
effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by
Committee of the Whole
1.
Exempts
researchers and accredited universities
from liability for any fraudulent research that was published and conducted at,
or funded by, that accredited university
.
2.
Exempts drug manufacturers that are registered with the Arizona State
Board of Pharmacy from liability for any fraudulent scientific research that
was conducted at, or funded by, the drug manufacturer.
Senate Action
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Prepared by Senate Research
March 13, 2026
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Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
SB1066 - 572R - S Ver
Senate Engrossed
civil liability;
fraudulent scientific research
State of Arizona
Senate
Fifty-seventh Legislature
Second Regular Session
2026
SENATE BILL 1066
AN
ACT
AMENDING TITLE 12, CHAPTER 6, ARIZONA REVISED
STATUTES, BY ADDING ARTICLE
20; RELATING TO CIVIL LIABILITY.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 12, chapter 6, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended by adding article 20, to read:
ARTICLE
20. FRAUDULENT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
START_STATUTE
12-791.
Fraudulent scientific research; civil liability; statute of
limitations; exception; definitions
A. The attorney general or county
attorney may bring a civil action against a researcher for knowingly or
recklessly publishing fraudulent scientific research. the action
shall be proven by clear and convincing evidence.
b. a researcher is not liable in an
action commenced pursuant to this section for any of the following:
1. Preregistering a scientific
hypothesis, method or analysis before research is conducted.
2. Discovering
results
that were reported to an institution or the public were misinterpreted or
that an error was made in data analysis.
3. providing reasonable access to the
study After the conclusion or publication of the research.
4. Posting the methodology and data
on an open access database or site.
c. In an action brought under this
section, the court may order:
1. Temporary or permanent injunctive
relief.
2. Restitution to the injured party,
including research institutions, universities, funding agencies, coresearchers
and persons who suffered reputational harm, financial harm or other damages.
3. A civil penalty of not more than
$50,000.
4. any Other relief that the court
determines to be appropriate.
D. An action for fraudulent
scientific research shall be commenced within four years after the research is
published.
E. if the attorney general brings an
action under this section, the attorney general shall deposit, pursuant to
sections 35-146 and 35-147, Civil penalties collected in the state
general fund. if the county attorney brings an action under this
section, the county attorney shall deposit Civil penalties collected in the
county general fund.
f. notwithstanding subsection C of
this section, a party that suffers damages due to a researcher who knowingly or
recklessly publishes fraudulent scientific research may:
1. sue in the superior court.
2. recover actual damages sustained,
including the cost of the suit and reasonable attorney fees.
G. This section does not apply to:
1. A researcher who publishes
scientific research that was conducted at or funded by a university accredited
by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of
Education, or its successor agency, and any such university is not liable under
this section for any fraudulent scientific research.
2. Research conducted by or funded by
a drug manufacturer that is registered with the Arizona state Board of
Pharmacy, and any such drug manufacturer is not liable under this section for
any fraudulent scientific research.
H. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Fraudulent scientific
research" means research that is knowingly or recklessly published using
false scientific information or conclusions.
2. "KnowingLY" includes
acting in deliberate ignorance of the veracity of the information and does not
require proof of a person's specific intent to defraud.
3. "Publication" means the
formal process of making research available to the public.
4. "Recklessly" includes
acting in disregard of the veracity of the information.
5. "Researcher" means a
person who conducts scientific research.
END_STATUTE