SB 1078
Initials JL/IG Page 1 Caucus & COW
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
Senate: JUD DPA 6-1-0-0 | 3
rd
Read DPA 26-2-2-0
House: JUD DP 6-2-1-0
SB 1078: fraudulent voice recordings
Sponsor: Senator Kavanagh, LD 3
Caucus & COW
Overview
Establishes the use of a computer generated voice recording, image or video of another person
with the intent to defraud or harass other persons as a form of criminal impersonation
punishable as a class 5 felony.
History
Under current law, a person commits criminal impersonation (a class 6 felony) by:
1) assuming a false identity with the intent to defraud another;
2) pretending to be a representative of some person or organization with the intent to
defraud; or
3) pretending to be, or assuming a false identity of, an employee or a representative of
some person or organization with the intent to induce another person to provide or
allow access to property (A.R.S. § 13-2006).
A class 6 felony carries a presumptive prison sentence of 1 year for a first-time offense and a
fine of no more than $150,000. A class 5 felony carries presumptive prison sentence of 1.5
years for first time offenders and a fine of no more than $150,000 (A.R.S. §§ 13-702, 13-801).
For purposes of A.R.S. § 13-2921 (prescribing the offense of harassment), the term harass is
defined as conduct that is directed at a specific person and that would cause a reasonable
person to be seriously alarmed, annoyed, humiliated or mentally distressed and the conduct
in fact seriously alarms, annoys, humiliates or mentally distresses the person.
Provisions
1. Adds that a person commits criminal impersonation by using a computer generated voice
recording, image or video of another person with intent to defraud other persons or with
intent to harass other persons. (Sec. 1)
2. For purposes of this offense, deems the term harass to carry the same definition as
prescribed in A.R.S. § 13-2921. (Sec. 1)
3. Classifies this new form of criminal impersonation as a class 5 felony. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note