Criminal penalties: wildfires.

Existing law prohibits unlawfully causing a fire by recklessly setting fire to, burning, or causing to be burned, any structure, forest land, or property. A violation of this prohibition that causes great bodily injury, that causes an inhabited structure or property to burn, or that causes a fire of a structure or forest land is punishable either as a felony or a misdemeanor.

This bill would make the above-described violations punishable only as a felony including a fine not to exceed $10,000. By increasing the punishment of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.