Arson: commercial livestock farms.

Existing law creates the crime of aggravated arson, and, in pertinent part, makes a person guilty of that crime if he or she willfully, maliciously, deliberately, with premeditation, and with intent to cause injury to a person or cause damage to a property under circumstances likely to produce injury or damage, sets fire to or burns a structure, forest land, or property if one of specified aggravating factors exist, including that the property damage or other losses exceed $6,500,000. This bill would specify that an aggravating factor exists if the fire was set with the intent to disrupt the commercial operations of an animal feeding operation, animal feedlot, or livestock salesyard, and the fire caused damage in excess of $100,000. Because this bill would expand the scope of a crime, the 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.