The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current Arizona statutes by introducing new sentencing enhancements for individuals convicted of specific crimes, such as stalking or assault, if they are acting as agents of a foreign government or terrorist organization. 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 the foreign entity or restricting protected conduct. Additionally, the bill would classify the act of engaging in law enforcement activities without proper authorization as a class 2 felony when done under the direction of a foreign government or organization.

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 tactics of transnational repression, understanding the governments involved, and best practices for prevention and response. The training curriculum would be developed in collaboration with an experienced organization and updated annually to address emerging threats. Importantly, the program would explicitly prohibit 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