(a) The Legislature finds and declares that environmental crimes are public welfare offenses resulting from violations of statutes designed to safeguard against threats or injury to the health and safety of the public and California’s environment and precious natural resources.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 1203.1 or 1203a, if an entity is granted probation upon conviction of an environmental crime, the term of probation shall not exceed five years, which may include a period of summary probation as appropriate. For purposes of this section, environmental crimes means violations of any crimes in the following sections:

Terms Used In California Penal Code 1204.1

  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.

(1) Division 9 (commencing with Section 12000) and § 5650 of the Fish and Game Code.

(2) § 12996 of the Food and Agricultural Code.

(3) Sections 132 and 133 of the Harbors and Navigation Code.

(4) Part 14 (commencing with Section 117600) of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code.

(5) Article 3 (commencing with Section 42400) of Chapter 4 of Part 4 of Division 26 of the Health and Safety Code.

(6) Chapters 6.5 (commencing with Section 25100), Chapter 6.67 (commencing with Section 25270), Chapter 6.7 (commencing with Section 25280), and Chapter 6.95 (commencing with Section 25500) of Division 20 of the Health and Safety Code.

(7) Chapter 7.4 (commencing with Section 8670.1) of Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(8) Sections 374.2, 374.3, 374.5, 374.7, 374.8, 597, 653o, 653p, and 653q of the Penal Code.

(9) Section 32001 and subdivision (b) of § 34506 of the Vehicle Code.

(10) § 13387 of the Water Code.

(c) For purposes of subdivision (b), an entity means a trust, firm, partnership, joint stock company, joint venture, association, limited liability company, corporation, or other legal entity with more than 10 employees.

(Added by Stats. 2023, Ch. 264, Sec. 1. (AB 508) Effective January 1, 2024.)

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