REFERENCE TITLE: stalking; offense; definitions

 

 

 

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-second Legislature

Second Regular Session

2016

 

 

HB 2419

 

Introduced by

Representative Farnsworth E

 

 

AN ACT

 

amending section 13‑2923, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to stalking.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 


Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Section 13-2923, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE13-2923.  Stalking; classification; definitions

A.  A person commits stalking if the person intentionally or knowingly engages in a course of conduct that is directed toward another person and if that conduct either causes the victim to:

1.  Would cause a reasonable person to fear for the person's safety or the safety of that person's immediate family member and that person in fact fears for the person's safety or the safety of that person's immediate family member.

2.  Would cause a reasonable person to fear death of that person or that person's immediate family member and that person in fact fears death of that person or that person's immediate family member.

1.  suffer emotional distress or reasonably fear that either:

(a)  the victim's property will be damaged or destroyed.

(b)  Any of the following will be physically injured:

(i)  the victim.

(ii)  the victim's family member, domestic animal or livestock.

(iii)  a person with whom the victim has or has previously had a romantic or sexual relationship.

(iv)  a person who regularly resides in the victim's household or has resided in the victim's household within the six months before the last conduct occurred.

2.  Reasonably fear death or the death of any of the following:

(a)  the victim's family member, domestic animal or livestock.

(b)  A person with whom the victim has or has previously had a romantic or sexual relationship.

(c)  a person who regularly resides in the victim's household or has resided in the victim's household within the six months before the last conduct occurred.

B.  Stalking under subsection A, paragraph 1 of this section is a class 5 felony.  Stalking under subsection A, paragraph 2 of this section is a class 3 felony. 

C.  For the purposes of this section:

1.  "Course of conduct":

(a)  Means any of the following directly or indirectly, in person or through one or more third persons or by any other means, to do any of the following on more than one occasion:

(i)  Maintaining maintain visual or physical proximity to a specific person or directing direct verbal, written or other threats, whether express or implied, to a specific person on two or more occasions over a period of time, however short. 

(ii)  Using Use any electronic, digital or global positioning system device to surveil a specific person or a specific person's internet or wireless activity continuously for twelve hours or more or on two or more occasions over a period of time, however short, without authorization.

(iii)  Communicate, or cause to be communicated, words, images or language by or through the use of electronic mail or an electronic communication that is directed at a specific person without authorization and without a legitimate purpose.

(b)  Does not include constitutionally protected activity or other activity authorized by law, the other person, the other person's authorized representative or if the other person is a minor, the minor's parent or guardian.

2.  "Immediate family member" means a spouse, parent, child or sibling or any other person who regularly resides in a person's household or resided in a person's household within the past six months.

2.  "Emotional distress" means significant mental suffering or distress that may, but does not have to, require medical or other professional treatment or counseling.