574.080 Causing catastrophe — definitions — penalty.

574.080. Causing catastrophe — definitions — penalty. — 1. A person commits the offense of causing catastrophe if he or she knowingly causes a catastrophe by explosion, fire, flood, collapse of a building, release of poison, radioactive material, bacteria, virus or other dangerous and difficult to confine force or substance. 2. As used in this section, the following terms mean: (1) "Catastrophe" , death or serious physical injury to ten or more people or substantial damage to five or more buildings or inhabitable structures or substantial damage to a vital public facility which seriously impairs its usefulness or operation; (2) "Vital public facility" , includes a facility maintained for use as a bridge, whether over land or water, dam, reservoir, tunnel, communication installation or power station. 3. The offense of causing catastrophe is a class A felony. (L. 1977 S.B. 60, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Transferred 2014; formerly 569.070; Effective 1-01-17