SB1599 is a bill that proposes to amend Arizona's sentencing laws by adding the use, threatened use, or possession of artificial intelligence (AI) as an aggravating circumstance for sentencing determinations. Currently, Arizona law lists 27 aggravating circumstances that can influence sentencing, such as the use of a deadly weapon during the commission of a crime. This bill seeks to include AI as a type of deadly weapon or dangerous instrument when used, threatened to be used, or possessed during a crime, thereby making it an additional factor for courts to consider during sentencing.

The bill makes technical and conforming changes to the existing law, specifically amending section 13-701 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. It replaces the term "utilized" with "used" in the context of serious physical injury and deadly weapons as aggravating circumstances and adds a new point, designating the use of AI in the commission of an offense as an aggravating circumstance. The bill is set to become effective on the general effective date, with no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-701
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-701