1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to crime; increasing penalties for arson 
  1.3             crimes when the arson is committed to conceal evidence 
  1.4             of other criminal activity; proposing coding for new 
  1.5             law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 609. 
  1.6   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.7      Section 1.  [609.5631] [INCREASED PENALTIES FOR CERTAIN 
  1.8   ARSON CRIMES.] 
  1.9      When a person is convicted of violating section 609.561, 
  1.10  609.562, or 609.563, the court shall determine at the time of 
  1.11  sentencing whether the person committed the crime, in whole or 
  1.12  in part, for the purpose of concealing evidence of criminal 
  1.13  activity.  If the court finds that the person had this purpose, 
  1.14  it may sentence the person to imprisonment for up to three years 
  1.15  longer than the statutory maximum sentence otherwise applicable 
  1.16  to the crime of conviction. 
  1.17     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  1.18     Section 1 is effective August 1, 1995, and applies to 
  1.19  crimes committed on or after that date.