HB 355 Summary

• Establishes criminal burning in the first degree as requiring a violation of AS 11.46.430 plus two prior convictions within 10 years of fire-related offenses.

• Creates two new felony crimes: criminal burning of forested land in the first degree (class B felony) and second degree (class C felony) for knowingly setting fires that spread with criminal negligence to land not owned by the person.

• Restructures fire management violations on forested land as class A misdemeanors for knowing violations and violations (fine-only) for conduct without culpable mental state, removing blanket misdemeanor language from individual sections.

• Grants forestry division employees and authorized agents explicit authority to prevent, investigate, suppress, and control wildland fires on public or private land, with prohibition on interference with this access.

• Requires the Alaska Supreme Court to establish a bail schedule for fire-related offenses within 120 days, with bail amounts not exceeding maximum authorized fines; allows enforcement officers to issue citations for violations.