Minnesota Session Laws - 2003, Regular Session

                             CHAPTER 82-H.F.No. 385 
                  An act relating to crime prevention; adding criminal 
                  penalties for fires caused by grossly negligent 
                  persons that result in bodily harm to a person; making 
                  technical changes to the negligent fire law; amending 
                  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 609.576, subdivision 
                  1. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 609.576, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [NEGLIGENT FIRE RESULTING IN INJURY OR 
        PROPERTY DAMAGE.] Whoever is grossly negligent in causing a fire 
        to burn or get out of control thereby causing damage or injury 
        to another, and as a result thereof of this: 
           (a) (1) a human being is injured and great bodily harm 
        incurred, is guilty of a crime and may be sentenced to 
        imprisonment of for not more than five years or to payment of a 
        fine of not more than $10,000, or both; 
           (2) a human being is injured and bodily harm incurred, is 
        guilty of a crime and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not 
        more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than 
        $3,000, or both; or 
           (b) (3) property of another is injured, thereby, is guilty 
        of a crime and may be sentenced as follows: 
           (1) (i) to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to 
        payment of a fine of not more than $700 $1,000, or both, if the 
        value of the property damage is under $300; 
           (2) (ii) to imprisonment for not more than one year, or to 
        payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both, if the value 
        of the property damaged is at least $300 but is less than 
        $2,500; or 
           (3) (iii) to imprisonment for not more than three years, or 
        to payment of a fine of not more than $5,000, or both, if the 
        value of the property damaged is $2,500 or more.  
           [EFFECTIVE DATE.] This section is effective August 1, 2003, 
        and applies to crimes committed on or after that date. 
           Presented to the governor May 20, 2003 
           Signed by the governor May 23, 2003, 2:50 p.m.