| 69 | | - | Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Title 13, chapter 24, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-2414, to read: START_STATUTE13-2414. Impersonating a veteran; classification; definition A. A person commits impersonating a veteran of the United States armed forces if the person knowingly pretends to be a veteran and engages in any of the following conduct with the intent to induce another to submit to the person's pretended official authority or to detrimentally rely on the person's pretended official acts: 1. The person pretends to be a veteran of any branch of the uniformed services of the United States without having served in that branch as an enlisted service member, warrant officer or commissioned officer. 2. The person pretends to be a recipient of a decoration, medal, badge or tab that was not lawfully earned through military service. 3. The person pretends to have graduated from a military school from which the person did not graduate or to have obtained a rating or military occupational specialty that the person did not obtain. 4. The person falsely claims attendance at any of the following academies or schools: (a) United States Military Academy. (b) United States Naval Academy. (c) United States Air Force Academy. (d) United States Coast Guard Academy. (e) United States Merchant Marine Academy. (f) United States marine Corp and United States Army Sergeant Majors Academy. (g) United states air force Chiefs course. (h) United States Navy Senior enlisted academy. (i) All other military Branch Schools that produce an Additional Skills Identifier Qualification, including ranger, seal, Recon or special forces. 5. The person falsely pretends to be a combat veteran. 6. The person falsifies or alters military documents or records. 7. The person pretends to have received a characterization of discharge that the person did not receive. B. Certified separation documents from the applicable uniformed service or the national archives and record administration that support the person's claims constitute a complete defense to prosecution. Before filing a complaint or seeking an indictment, a prosecuting agency must obtain from the applicable uniformed service or the national archives and record administration a certified copy of the person's separation documents or receive notice that such documents do not exist. C. If the person is serving as a state, county, municipal or district elected official at the time of conviction, the person shall be removed from office within ten calendar days after sentencing. D. This section does not apply to actors or actresses who play a veteran in conjunction with a role in a production intended for entertainment or to individuals experiencing homelessness who solicit donations of less than $50. E. Impersonating a veteran is a class 1 misdemeanor. Impersonating a veteran is a class 6 felony if the benefit obtained has a value of at least $500 but less than $5,000. Impersonating a veteran is a class 5 felony if the benefit obtained has a value of at least $5,000 but less than $10,000. Impersonating a veteran is a class 4 felony if the benefit obtained is at least $10,000 or if the person impersonates a veteran in furtherance of a campaign for political office. F. For the purposes of this section, "combat veteran" means a current or former member of the uniformed services who served in a location where the receipt of imminent danger pay or hostile fire pay was authorized. END_STATUTE Sec. 2. Short title This act may be cited as the "Master Sergeant Orlando Dona Valor Act". |
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| 80 | + | Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Title 13, chapter 24, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-2414, to read: START_STATUTE13-2414. Impersonating a veteran; classification A. A person commits impersonating a veteran of the United States armed forces if the person knowingly pretends to be a veteran and engages in any of the following conduct with the intent to induce another to submit to the person's pretended official authority or to rely on the person's pretended official acts: 1. Impersonating a veteran of the United States armed forces to obtain employment or government contracts, to secure votes, campaign contributions or political advantages or to claim veteran benefits such as health care, education or disability compensation. 2. Wearing, displaying or claiming entitlement to any award in any branch of the United States armed forces, including the following: (a) Medal of Honor. (b) Distinguished Service Cross. (c) Distinguished service medal. (d) Silver Star Medal. (e) Legion of merit. (f) Distinguished flying cross. (g) Bronze Star Medal. (h) Purple Heart. (i) Meritorious Silver medal. (j) Commendation medal. (k) Achievement Medal. 3. Falsifying or altering military documents, including any Certificates of Release or discharge from active duty, or personnel files. 4. Falsely wearing, for personal benefit, any combat-related or special skills badges and tabs not lawfully earned through military service. B. It is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that the veteran the person pretended to be did not in fact exist or that the pretended veteran did not in fact possess the authority claimed by the pretended veteran. C. If the person is serving as a state, county, municipal or district elected official at the time the person is convicted of a violation of this section, the person must be removed from that office within ten calendar days after sentencing. D. Impersonating a veteran is a class 4 felony. Impersonating a veteran is a class 3 felony if the violation involved a benefit with a value of at least $5,000 but less than $10,000. Impersonating a veteran is a class 2 felony if the violation involved a benefit with a value of at least $50,000 and the person is not eligible for suspension of sentence, probation, pardon or release from confinement on any basis except pursuant to section 31-233, subsection A or B until the sentence imposed by the court has been served, the person is eligible for release pursuant to section 41-1604.07 or the sentence is commuted. END_STATUTE Sec. 2. Short title This act may be cited as the "Master Sergeant Orlando Dona Valor Act". |
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