S-3034.1  _______________________________________________

                         SENATE BILL 6422

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

By Senators Costa and McCaslin

Read first time 01/17/2002.  Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

Defining "property of another" for purposes of crimes against property.

    AN ACT Relating to crimes involving property of another person; and amending RCW 9A.48.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

    Sec. 1.  RCW 9A.48.010 and 1975-'76 2nd ex.s. c 38 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) For the purpose of this chapter, ((as now or hereinafter amended,)) unless the context indicates otherwise:

    (a) "Building" has the definition in RCW 9A.04.110(5), and where a building consists of two or more units separately secured or occupied, each unit shall not be treated as a separate building;

    (b) "Damages", in addition to its ordinary meaning, includes any charring, scorching, burning, or breaking, or agricultural or industrial sabotage, and shall include any diminution in the value of any property as a consequence of an act;

(c) "Property of another" means property in which the actor possesses anything less than exclusive ownership.

    (2) To constitute arson it ((shall)) is not ((be)) necessary that a person other than the actor ((should have had)) has ownership in the building or structure damaged or set on fire.

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