Bill > AB297

This bill amends California's Penal Code to expand the sentencing enhancements for felony arson convictions by adding a new provision that imposes a three-, four-, or five-year additional prison term if the defendant proximately causes 500 or more acres of forest land to burn. The bill builds upon existing law that already allows such enhancements for circumstances like previous arson convictions, causing injury to emergency personnel, causing great bodily injury to multiple victims, burning multiple structures, or using devices to accelerate or delay fire ignition. The enhancement can only be applied if the specific circumstance is alleged in the charging documents and either admitted by the defendant or found to be true by the court. Additionally, the bill includes a provision stating that no state reimbursement is required for local agencies because the act relates to creating, eliminating, or changing criminal penalties. This modification aims to provide stronger legal consequences for arson that causes extensive damage to forest lands, potentially serving as a deterrent to wildfire-related criminal activities.

Justice

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB297