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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
technical correction;
tax judges; qualifications
(NOW: extortion; social media; messages)
Purpose
Specifies that a person commits theft by extortion by knowingly obtaining or seeking to obtain property or services by means of threat to expose a secret or an asserted fact in the future through a social media message or in any other manner.
Background
A person commits theft by extortion by knowingly obtaining or seeking to obtain property or services by means of threatening to: 1) cause physical injury or death to anyone; 2) cause property damage; 3) engage in other conduct constituting an offense; 4) accuse anyone of a crime or bringing criminal charges against anyone; 5) expose a secret or an asserted fact, whether true or false, tending to subject anyone to hatred, contempt or ridicule or to impair the person's credit or business; 6) take or withhold action as a public servant or causing a public servant to take or withhold action; 7) cause anyone to part with any property; or 8) take or withhold action regarding an alleged claim of easement or other right of access to an adjoining property under certain circumstances (A.R.S. § 13-1804).
Social media messages means forms of communication, including internet sites for social networking or blogging, through which users create a personal profile and participate in online communities to share information, ideas and personal messages (A.R.S. § 16-901).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Specifies that a person commits theft by extortion by knowingly obtaining or seeking to obtain property or services by means of threat to expose a secret or an asserted fact in the future through a social media message or in any other manner.
2. Makes a technical change.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
• Adopted the strike-everything amendment.
Senate Action
APPROP 2/22/22 DPA/SE 9-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
February 24, 2022
ZD/HW/sr