HB2475 - 562R

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 12-751, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE12-751. Strategic actions against public participation; motion to dismiss or quash or for summary judgment; definitions

A. In any legal action that involves a person's lawful exercise of the right of petition, the right of speech, the freedom of the press, the right to freely associate, the right to religious liberty or the right to peaceably assemble pursuant to the United States Constitution or Arizona Constitution, or which otherwise implicates a person's freedom to hold or express political or religious views or engage in politically related advocacy without fear of retaliation, the person other than a state actor or an intervenor may file a motion to dismiss, or quash or obtain summary judgment in the action under this section, except that remedies for a violation of this section with respect to legal actions set forth in subsection L, paragraph 1, subdivision (a), item (ii) of this section shall be as set forth in section 13-720.

B. A person who files a motion pursuant to subsection A of this section, or who files a petition for postconviction relief as set forth in section 13-720, has the burden of establishing prima facie proof that a substantial motivation for the legal action was substantially motivated by a desire to deter, retaliate against or prevent the lawful exercise of a constitutional right any person from holding or expressing political or religious views, from free political association or from engaging in politically related advocacy without fear of retaliation or from the lawful exercise of any constitutional right. The moving person may submit evidence based on the record, a sworn affidavit or other evidence that is submitted with the motion to dismiss or quash or petition for postconviction relief. A party is not required to file a response to a motion filed pursuant to subsection A of this section unless and until the court finds that the moving party has established the prima facie proof and orders the party to file a response. The court shall grant the motion unless one of the following applies:

1. If the responding party is a state actor, the responding party shows that the legal action on which the motion or petition for postconviction relief is based is justified by clearly established law and that the responding party did not act in order with a substantial motive to deter, retaliate against or prevent or retaliate against the moving party's exercise of constitutional rights any person from holding or expressing political or religious views, from free political association or from engaging in politically related advocacy without fear of retaliation. A state actor may satisfy the requirements of this paragraph by doing any of the following:

(a) Establishing that the person who initiated and conducted an investigation that resulted in the legal action and that who made the decision to pursue the legal action was unaware of the movant's lawful exercise of the constitutional right or political beliefs or advocacy.

(b) Establishing that the state actor has a consistent practice of pursuing similar legal actions against similarly situated persons who did not lawfully exercise constitutional rights.

(c) (b) Producing any other evidence that the court finds sufficient to establish that the state actor did not act with a substantial motive to deter, retaliate against or prevent any person from holding or expressing political or religious views, from free political expression or from engaging in politically related advocacy without fear of retaliation.

2. If the responding party is not a state actor, the responding party shows that the legal action on which the motion is based is justified by existing law or supported by a reasonable argument for extending or modifying existing law.

C. In making its determination, the court shall conduct an evidentiary hearing or consider the pleadings and supporting and opposing affidavits stating facts on which the liability, defense or action is based.

D. The motion to dismiss or quash may be filed within sixty days after the service of the complaint or other document on which the motion is based, at any later time within sixty days after actual notice of a party's misconduct or, in the court's discretion, at any later time on terms that the court deems proper, including a later time after there is actual notice of a party's misconduct. If the court finds that prima facie proof has been established as prescribed in subsection B of this section, the court, if possible, shall conduct an expedited hearing on the motion.

E. Unless a court rule specifically provides otherwise, all discovery proceedings in the action shall be stayed on a finding of prima facie proof as prescribed in subsection B of this section. The stay of discovery shall remain in effect until notice of entry of the order ruling on the motion. Notwithstanding this subsection, the court, on noticed motion and for good cause shown, may order that specified discovery be conducted.

F. If the court grants the motion to dismiss or quash, the court may award the moving party costs and reasonable attorney fees, including those incurred for the motion, and shall award costs and reasonable attorney fees if the nonmoving party is a state actor. If the court finds that a motion to dismiss or quash filed pursuANT TO THIS SECTION is frivolous or solely intended to delay, the court shall award costs and reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party on the motion UNLESS THE PREVAILING PARTY IS A STATE ACTOR. For the purposes of this subsection, "costs" means all costs that are reasonably incurred and includes filing fees, record preparation and document copying fees, documented time away from employment to confer with counsel or attend case related proceedings, expert witness fees, travel expenses and any other costs that the court deems appropriate.

G. If the court denies the motion to dismiss or quash, the denial and the court's findings in support of the denial are not admissible in evidence at any later stage of the case, or in any subsequent action, and the burden of proof or degree of proof that is otherwise applicable is not affected by the findings in any later stage of the case or in any subsequent proceeding.

H. If the court determines that the moving party has established prima facie proof as prescribed in subsection B of this section, an order granting or denying a motion filed pursuant to this section is appealable pursuant to section 12-2101.

I. A state actor is liable for intentionally bringing or maintaining, conspiring to bring or maintain or aiding and abetting the pursuit or maintenance of a legal action when a substantial motivation for the state actor is a desire to deter, retaliate against or prevent any person from holding or expressing political or religious views, from free political association or from engaging in politically related advocacy. in an action brought pursuant to this subsection:

1. The action shall be commenced within four years after the conclusion of the underlying action.

2. Each party has the right to a trial by jury, if demanded.

3. It is not a defense to the action that either:

(a) The underlying legal action resulted in an adverse judgment, decision, opinion, verdict, ruling or other adverse action against the person whose rights were violated.

(b) A motion filed pursuant to subsection A of this section was not brought in the underlying legal action. If a motion filed pursuant to subsection a of this section was made in the underlying legal action and was unsuccessful, the court, in its discretion, may allow a jury to consider this fact but the disposition of the motion is not binding on the jury.

4. A prevailing party is entitled to declaratory relief, nominal damages, compensatory damages, attorney fees and costs and vacatur and the sealing of any adverse judgments, decisions, opinions, verdicts, rulings or other dispositions in the underlying action.

5. If an individual is found liable, the individual may not be indemnified by this state or a political subdivision of this state or the state's or political subdivision's insurer.

6. A peace officer is immune from liability under this section.

7. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, the exclusive means of redress for a violation of this section with respect to legal actions set forth in subsection L, paragraph 1, subdivision (a), item (ii) of this section shall be as set forth in section 13-720.

I. J. except as otherwise provided in this section, this article does not:

1. Affect, limit or preclude the right of the moving party to any remedy otherwise authorized by law.

2. Create any privileges or immunities or otherwise affect, limit or preclude any privileges or immunities authorized by law.

3. Limit or preclude a legislative or executive body or a public agency from enforcing the rules of procedure and rules of order of the body or agency.

J. k. This section is intended to prevent the government from being used as a tool to chill the adoption or expression of, or advocacy for, unpopular political or religious beliefs or positions and shall be liberally construed to effectuate this purpose.

K. L. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Legal action":

(a) Means any of the following:

(i) Any civil action, claim, cross-claim or counterclaim for damages other than nominal damages.

(ii) Any criminal prosecution, except for a drug trafficking offense included in title 13, chapter 34 or 34.1, a riot or a serious offense or violent or aggravated felony as defined in section 13-706.

(iii) Any written investigative demand pursuant to section 38-431.06 or other compulsory legal process or any regulatory or administrative action by a state actor.

(b) Does not include a motion filed pursuant to subsection A of this section.

2. "State actor" means any of the following:

(a) This state and any county, city, town or political subdivision of this state and the United States, to the maximum extent permitted under the United States Constitution and the Arizona constitution.

(b) Any branch, department, board, bureau, commission, council, professional or occupational licensing or regulatory organization in which membership is mandatory for industry participants or committee of an entity included in subdivision (a) of this paragraph.

(c) Any officer, employee or other agent of an entity included in subdivision (a) of this paragraph who is acting in the officer's, employee's or agent's official capacity. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Section 13-716, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-716. Juvenile offenders sentenced to life imprisonment; parole eligibility

Notwithstanding any other law, a person who is sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility of release after serving a minimum number of calendar years for an offense that was committed before the person attained eighteen years of age an indeterminate life sentence is eligible for parole on completion of service of the minimum sentence, regardless of whether the offense was committed on or after January 1, 1994. If granted parole, the person shall remain on parole for the remainder of the person's life except that and subject to any conditions that are set by the board of executive clemency until or unless the person is granted as absolute discharge from parole by the board of executive clemency or the person's parole may be is revoked pursuant to section 31-415. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Title 13, chapter 38, article 29, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-4242, to read:

START_STATUTE13-4242. Postconviction relief for criminal political prosecution; definitions

A. Notwithstanding any other law, a defendant who has been convicted of a criminal offense in a legal action commenced or maintained in violation of section 12-751 and who is an eligible petitioner may file a petition for postconviction relief pursuant to this section and section 13-4231, paragraph 2, except that relief may not be precluded for the failure to timely raise the issue or on the grounds that the accused consented to jurisdiction of the court.

B. A defendant who obtains relief pursuant to section 12-751 and this section shall have the conviction set aside and shall be awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred in defending against the legal action and bringing and maintaining the petition for postconviction relief, including any such fess and costs incurred on appeal.

C. To be eligible for relief under this section, a defendant must file a notice with the court within thirty days after the date of sentencing indicating an intent to request postconviction relief by reason that the defendant was convicted in an action brought or maintained in violation of section 12-751.

D. Within sixty days after the filing of the notice under subsection C of this section, the court shall hold a hearing to determine whether the defendant qualifies as an eligible petitioner. If the court finds that the defendant is an eligible petitioner, the defendant shall be allowed to proceed with the petition for postconviction relief.

E. This section shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes, which include the protection of individuals who have been subjected to political prosecutions and the preservation of the integrity of the criminal justice system.

F. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Eligible petitioner" means an individual who was, at the time of arrest, one or more of the following:

(a) A current or former public official including, for the purposes of this section, a precinct committeeman.

(b) A current or former candidate for public office including, for the purposes of this section, a precinct committeeman.

(d) A current or former public figure as that term is defined at common law.

(e) A current or former police officer.

(f) A current or former participant in a protest where the individual's arrest was related to the individual's involvement in the protest.

(g) An agent, employee or attorney of any person set forth above of a nonprofit organization, political action committee or recognized political party.

2. "Legal action" has the same meaning prescribed in section 12-751. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Legislative intent

The legislature intends that the change made to the definition of state actor in section 12-751, subsection L, paragraph 2, Arizona Revised Statutes, as amended by this act, is to clarify the definition and is not intended to be a substantive change.

Sec. 5. Legislative findings

The legislature finds that:

1. Systemic issues with current law render our current system of justice unworthy of the fairness that we demand as Arizonans.

2. State and federal statutes, rules, laws and regulations are so numerous, broad and expansive that they allow for virtually any person to be targeted by the government for their violation. Once targeted, sentencing rules do not allow for the appropriate degree of judicial discretion. Legal ambiguity in sentencing orders threatens to further compound this problem.

3. Our judicial system requires additional adjustments to ensure procedural fairness.

Sec. 6. Severability

If a provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of the act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.

Sec. 7. Short title

This act may be cited as the "Justice For All Act".