Pennsylvania Act 2002-40 — CRIMES CODE (18 PA.C.S.) - AMEND CAUSING OR RISKING CATASTROPHE

Act text

Session of 2002

No. 2002-40

HB 2088

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for causing or risking catastrophe.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Section 3302 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

§ 3302. Causing or risking catastrophe.

(a) Causing catastrophe.--A person who causes a catastrophe by explosion, fire, flood, avalanche, collapse of building, release of poison gas, radioactive material or other harmful or destructive force or substance, or by any other means of causing potentially widespread injury or damage, including selling, dealing in or otherwise providing licenses or permits to transport hazardous materials in violation of 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 83 (relating to hazardous materials transportation), commits a felony of the first degree if he does so intentionally or knowingly, or a felony of the second degree if he does so recklessly.

(b) Risking catastrophe.--A person is guilty of a felony of the third degree if he recklessly creates a risk of catastrophe in the employment of fire, explosives or other dangerous means listed in subsection (a) of this section.

Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.

APPROVED--The 30th day of April, A. D. 2002.

MARK S. SCHWEIKER