Assembly Bill 672 aims to enhance penalties for crimes committed by individuals acting as agents of foreign governments or terrorist organizations with the intent to suppress political dissent, a practice known as transnational repression. The bill introduces a new penalty enhancer under section 939.64, which stipulates that if a crime is committed under these circumstances, the classification of the crime will be elevated by one level. For example, if the underlying crime is a Class B to I felony, it will be treated as a higher felony, and if it is a Class A misdemeanor, it will be classified as a Class I felony. Additionally, the bill establishes a Class E felony for those who engage in enforcing foreign laws without federal or state approval, imposing a mandatory minimum prison term of three years and a fine of at least $10,000.

Furthermore, the bill mandates the Department of Justice to develop training programs for law enforcement on identifying and responding to transnational repression, maintain a list of countries and organizations involved in such activities, and create a public awareness campaign to educate the community on recognizing and reporting these cases. The bill also requires the Department to submit an annual report to the legislature detailing identified cases of transnational repression. The amendment to section 973.01 includes the new section 939.64 as part of the existing penalty enhancement provisions.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 973.01(2)(c)2.a, 973.01