The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current Arizona statutes by introducing new sentencing enhancements for individuals convicted of specific crimes, such as stalking and assault, when those individuals are acting as agents of foreign governments or terrorist organizations. Specifically, it would require that such individuals be sentenced to the next higher class of offense if they engage in coercive actions during the commission of their crimes, such as forcing others to act on behalf of these foreign entities or restricting their protected conduct. Additionally, the bill would classify the unauthorized engagement in law enforcement activities by these agents as a class 2 felony.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the establishment of a Transnational Repression Recognition and Response Training Program by the Department of Public Safety (DPS). This program would provide specialized training for law enforcement officers on identifying and responding to tactics of transnational repression, including the use of digital surveillance. The training curriculum would be developed in collaboration with an experienced organization and updated annually to address emerging threats. The program is explicitly prohibited from including any training that promotes targeting individuals based on political or religious beliefs.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-721, 41-1735
House Engrossed Version: 13-721, 41-1735
Chaptered Version: 13-721, 41-1735