ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-seventh Legislature First Regular Session
	Senate: RAGE DP 6-0-1-0 | 3^rd Read: 25-4-1-0

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SB 1424: liquor sampling; reporting; requirements

S/E: impersonation; veteran; armed forces

Sponsor: Senator Bolick, LD 2

Committee on Government

Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to SB 1424

Overview

Establishes the offense of impersonation of a veteran of the armed forces.

History

A person convicted of a class 1 misdemeanor can be sentenced to a maximum of six months.  A person convicted of a first-time felony offense must be sentenced within the following range depending on mitigating and aggravating circumstances:

1) for a class 6 felony, between .33 and 2 years;

2) for a class 5 felony, between .5 and 2.5 years; and

3) for a class 4 felony, between 1 and 3.75 years (A.R.S. §§ 13-702, 13-707).

Provisions

1. Specifies a person commits impersonation of a veteran of the armed forces if the person knowingly misrepresents themselves to be a veteran with the intent to obtain money, property or any tangible benefit, while doing any of the following:

a) knowingly misrepresenting themselves to be a veteran of any branch of the armed services;

b) knowingly misrepresenting themselves to be a recipient of a decoration, medal, badge or tab that was not lawfully earned through military service;

c) knowingly misrepresenting themselves to have graduated from a military school or to have obtained a rating or military occupational specialty;

d) falsely claiming attendance at specified academies or schools;

e) knowingly misrepresenting themselves to be a combat veteran;

f) falsifying military documents or records;

g) knowingly misrepresenting themselves to receive a characterization of discharge that they did not receive; or

h) knowingly misrepresenting themselves as a veteran in furtherance of a campaign for political office. (Sec. 1)

2. Clarifies that certified separation documents from the applicable uniformed service or the National Archives and Record Administration constitute a complete defense to prosecution of this offense. (Sec. 1)

3. Instructs the prosecuting agency to obtain a certified copy of the person's separation documents, or a notice that such documents do not exist, prior to filing a complaint or seeking indictment. (Sec. 1)

4. Requires an elected official who is convicted of impersonating a veteran to be removed from office within 10 calendar days after sentencing. (Sec. 1)

5. Exempts actors and actresses playing a veteran in a production intended for entertainment. (Sec. 1)

6. Exempts homeless individuals. (Sec. 1)

7. Classifies impersonating a veteran as a class 1 misdemeanor. (Sec. 1)

8. States impersonating a veteran is a class 6 felony if the benefit obtained is between $500 and $4,999. (Sec. 1)

9. Specifies impersonating a veteran is a class 5 felony if the benefit obtained is between $5,000 and $9,999. (Sec. 1)

10. Specifies impersonating a veteran is a class 4 felony if the benefit obtained is $10,000 or more. (Sec. 1)

11. Defines combat veteran and tangible benefit. (Sec. 1)

12. Entitles this act as the Master Sergeant Orlando Dona Valor Act. (Sec. 2)

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                        SB 1424

Initials JH     Page 0 Government

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