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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Sixth Legislature, First Regular Session
AMENDED
residential picketing; offense
Purpose
Determines that a person commits residential picketing if a reasonable person would find their actions to be harassing, threatening or alarming, regardless of whether the person committing residential picketing intended for their actions to be harassing, threatening or alarming.
Background
A person commits residential picketing if, with intent to harass, annoy or alarm another person, the person intentionally engages in picketing or otherwise demonstrates before or about the residence or dwelling place of an individual, unless the residence or dwelling place is also used as the principal place of business of the individual. Residential picketing is a class 3 misdemeanor (A.R.S. § 13-2909).
A class 3 misdemeanor carries a maximum imprisonment sentence of 30 days and a civil penalty of not more than $500 (A.R.S. §§ 13-707 and 13-802).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Determines that a person commits residential picketing if a reasonable person would find the picketing or demonstrating to be harassing, threatening or alarming to another person.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
· Requires picketing to be intended to threaten, or for a reasonable person to find an act of picketing to be threatening, rather than annoying, in order for the picketer to be guilty of a residential picketing violation.
Senate Action
JUD 1/19/23 DP 5-2-0
Prepared by Senate Research
February 21, 2023
ZD/SB/sr