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Senate Engrossed House Bill
electronic communications; personal information; harassment |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-fifth Legislature First Regular Session 2021
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HOUSE BILL 2502 |
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AN ACT
amending section 13-2916, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to offenses against public order.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 13-2916, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
13-2916. Use of an electronic communication to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass; unlawful use of electronic communication device; applicability; classification; definitions
A. It is unlawful for any person, with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass a specific person or persons, to do any of the following:
1. Direct any obscene, lewd or profane language or suggest any lewd or lascivious act to the person in an electronic communication.
2. Threaten to inflict physical harm to any person or property in any electronic communication.
3. Otherwise disturb by repeated anonymous, unwanted or unsolicited electronic communications the peace, quiet or right of privacy of the person at the place where the communications were received.
4. Without the person's consent and for the purpose of imminently causing the person unwanted physical contact, injury or harassment by a third party, use an electronic communication device to electronically distribute, publish, email, hyperlink or make available for downloading the person's personal identifying information, including a digital image of the person, and the use does in fact incite or produce that unwanted physical contact, injury or harassment. This paragraph also applies to a person who intends to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass an immediate family member of the person whose personal identifying information is used.
B. Any offense committed by use of an electronic communication as set forth in violation of this section is deemed to have been committed at either the place where the communications originated or at the place where the communications were received.
C. This section does not apply to:
1. Constitutionally protected speech or activity or to any other activity authorized by law.
2. An interactive computer service, as defined in 47 United States Code section 230(f)(2), or to an information service or telecommunications service, as defined in 47 United States Code section 153, for content that is provided by another person.
D. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor.
E. For the purposes of this section: ,
1. "Electronic communication" means a wire line, cable, wireless or cellular telephone call, a text message, an instant message or electronic mail.
2. "Electronic communication device" includes a telephone, mobile telephone, computer, internet website, internet telephone, hybrid cellular, internet or wireless device, personal digital assistant, video recorder, fax machine or pager.
3. "Harassment" means a knowing and wilful course of conduct that is directed at a specific person, that a reasonable person would consider as seriously alarming, seriously disruptive, seriously tormenting or seriously terrorizing the person and that serves no legitimate purpose.
4. "Personal identifying information":
(a) Means information that would allow the identified person to be located, contacted or harassed.
(b) Includes the person's home address, work address, phone number, email address or other contact information that would allow the identified person to be located, contacted or harassed.