The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to the punishment for the offense of arson.  Under the provisions of the bill, the punishment for arson would be enhanced from a second degree felony to a first degree felony if the arson involved property located in certain agricultural facilities or located in a state park. 

A second-degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term of two to twenty years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000. A first-degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term of five to 99 years or life in prison and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013, and only apply only to offenses committed on or after that date.

The bill's provisions increase the penalty for arson. Increasing the penalty for any criminal offense is expected to increase demands on state and/or county correctional agency resources due to longer terms of community supervision, county jail confinement, state correctional institution confinement, and/or parole. It is unknown how many instances of arson involved state parks or agricultural facilities.  However, the Legislative Budget Board assumes that the number of offenders supervised or incarcerated under this statute would not significantly impact state correctional agency resources.