The bill SB1594 amends Arizona Revised Statutes section 13-1204 to include individuals with developmental or cognitive disabilities in the exceptions for aggravated assault against healthcare workers. Under current law, assaults committed by individuals who cannot form a culpable mental state due to a mental disability are excluded from aggravated assault classification. The new bill expands this exclusion to specifically mention developmental and cognitive disabilities, thereby providing additional protections for these individuals when they are involved in incidents with healthcare workers.

Additionally, the bill makes technical changes to the language regarding the eligibility for suspension of sentence, commutation, or release from confinement for individuals convicted of aggravated assault on a peace officer. The revised language clarifies that the person is not eligible for such actions until the sentence is served, with specific exceptions outlined in other statutes. Overall, the bill aims to enhance the legal framework surrounding aggravated assault cases involving individuals with certain disabilities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-1204
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-1204
Chaptered Version: 13-1204