If enacted, this bill would introduce a new statute in Arizona law that criminalizes impersonating a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces. The bill defines the offense as knowingly pretending to be a veteran and engaging in specific deceptive conduct with the intent to induce others to submit to the impersonator's false authority or rely on their pretended official acts. The conduct includes falsely claiming to be a veteran, misrepresenting military awards, and altering military documents. The offense would generally be classified as a class 1 misdemeanor, with escalated penalties for impersonation that results in obtaining benefits of varying values, potentially leading to felony charges.

Additionally, the bill establishes defenses for those accused of impersonating a veteran, requiring prosecuting agencies to obtain certified separation documents before filing charges. It mandates the removal of any elected official convicted of this offense within ten days of sentencing. The bill also clarifies that it does not apply to actors portraying veterans in entertainment or individuals experiencing homelessness soliciting small donations. The legislation would be known as the "Master Sergeant Orlando Dona Valor Act" and would take effect on the general effective date.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-2414
House Engrossed Version: 13-2414