AB 468: Crimes: looting.

The proposed law aims to amend and add to the existing penal code to combat looting during natural disasters or emergencies. It would specify that the type of property damaged by a disaster does not excuse a conviction for burglary. The law would recast looting as a more severe offense by including burglary, grand theft, and trespass when committed in a designated evacuation zone. An evacuation zone is defined as an area from which civilians have been evacuated and where movement and entry are controlled by authorities. The law would impose increased penalties for these offenses, and it would also provide for more severe punishment for looting committed in areas affected by construction. Additionally, the law does not require reimbursement for certain costs associated with its implementation.