ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: JUDE DPA 4-3-0-0 | 3^rd Read 18-11-0-1 House: JUD DP 5-2-1-1

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SB 1295: fraudulent voice recordings

Sponsor: Senator Kavanagh, LD 3

Caucus & COW

Overview

Makes the use of a computer-generated recording of another person, with the intent to defraud or harass other persons, a form of criminal impersonation.

History

Under current law, a person commits criminal impersonation, classified as a class 6 felony, by:

1) assuming a false identity with the intent to defraud another;

2) pretending to be a representative of some person or organization with the intent to defraud; or

3) pretending to be, or assuming a false identity of, an employee or a representative of some person or organization with the intent to induce another person to provide or allow access to property (A.R.S. § 13-2006).

The term harass is defined as conduct that is directed at a specific person and that: 1) would cause a reasonable person to be seriously alarmed, annoyed, humiliated or mentally distressed; and 2) does in fact seriously alarm, annoy, humiliate or mentally distress said person (A.R.S. § 13-2921).

Provisions

1. Adds that a person commits criminal impersonation by using a computer-generated voice recording, image or video of another person with the intent to defraud or harass other persons. (Sec. 1)

2. Specifies that comedy, parody, artistic expression, criticism or circumstances where it is clear to a reasonable listener or viewer that the media has been digitally manipulated are not deemed fraudulent. (Sec. 1)

3. Classifies this new form of criminal impersonation as a class 5 felony. (Sec. 1)

4. Defines defraud and harass. (Sec. 1)

5. Makes conforming changes. (Sec. 1)

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                        SB 1295

Initials NM    Page 0 Caucus & COW

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