Arson.

Existing law defines the crime of aggravated arson, and makes a person guilty of that crime if the person has been previously convicted of arson on one or more occasions within the past 10 years, or if the fire caused damage to, or the destruction of 5 or more inhabited structures. Existing law, until January 1, 2014, made a person guilty of aggravated arson if the fire caused property damage and other losses in excess of $6,500,000, and specified the costs to be included in calculating property damages for purposes of that provision. This bill would reenact that provision until January 1, 2019, and would increase the requisite amount of property damage and other losses to $7,000,000. By expanding the scope of an existing 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. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.