Minnesota Session Laws - 2001, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 155-S.F.No. 1552 
                  An act relating to crimes; defining the level of 
                  negligence required for the crime of causing negligent 
                  fires; amending Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 
                  609.576, subdivision 1.  
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2000, section 609.576, 
        subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
           Subdivision 1.  [NEGLIGENT FIRE RESULTING IN INJURY OR 
        PROPERTY DAMAGE.] Whoever is culpably 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: 
           (a) a human being is injured and great bodily harm 
        incurred, is guilty of a crime and may be sentenced to 
        imprisonment of not more than five years or to payment of a fine 
        of not more than $10,000, or both; or 
           (b) property of another is injured, thereby, is guilty of a 
        crime and may be sentenced as follows: 
           (1) to imprisonment for not more than 90 days or to payment 
        of a fine of not more than $700, or both, if the value of the 
        property damage is under $300; 
           (2) to imprisonment for not more than one year, or to 
        payment of a fine of $3,000, or both, if the value of the 
        property damaged is at least $300 but is less than $2,500; 
           (3) 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. 
           Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 1 is effective August 1, 2001, and applies to 
        crimes committed on or after that date. 
           Presented to the governor May 17, 2001 
           Signed by the governor May 21, 2001, 10:53 a.m.