Plain English Breakdown
Checked against official source text during the last sync.
AB-297: Arson Penalties
This law adds extra prison time of 3, 4, or 5 years for people convicted of felony arson who cause at least 500 acres of forest land to burn.
What This Bill Does
- Adds a penalty enhancement of 3, 4, or 5 years in prison if the defendant proximately causes 500 or more acres of forest land to burn.
- Keeps existing rules that add time for felony arson cases where multiple structures are burned.
- States that no state reimbursement is required by this act.
Who It Names or Affects
- People convicted of felony arson who cause large fires in forests or burn multiple structures.
- Local agencies and school districts regarding cost reimbursements mandated by the state.
Terms To Know
- Penalty enhancement
- Extra prison time added to a sentence for felony arson if specific serious circumstances are found true.
- Proximately causes
- A legal term used in the bill meaning the person directly caused 500 or more acres of forest land to burn.
Limits and Unknowns
- The specific reason why no reimbursement is required is not listed in the provided text.
- The effective date for when this law starts is not included in the source material.