This bill proposes to amend Arizona Revised Statutes by adding a new section, 12-752, which establishes specific requirements for filing criminal charges against individuals identified as "politically engaged persons." Under the new law, any criminal charges against such individuals must receive prior approval from a majority of the attorney general and all county attorneys, ensuring that the standards applied are consistent with those used in similar cases. If the necessary approvals are not obtained, the court is mandated to dismiss the charges without prejudice, unless the prosecuting authority can demonstrate that the personnel involved were unaware of the individual's politically engaged status at the time of filing.

The bill defines "politically engaged person" to include current or former elected officials, candidates for office, entities involved in electoral or legislative advocacy, and individuals or entities associated with these groups within the past four years. This addition aims to provide greater protection for politically engaged individuals from potential misuse of criminal charges, thereby promoting public participation in government.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 12-752