(a) For the purpose of obtaining information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons who willfully and maliciously set fire to, or who attempt to willfully and maliciously set fire to, any property which is included within a state responsibility area, as defined in Section 4102, including a hazardous fire area designated by the board pursuant to Section 4252 or by the director pursuant to Section 4253, the department shall, during the fire season, make a toll-free 800 telephone number available for, and establish, a program to protect the anonymity of persons providing that information and to facilitate the identification of persons who are eligible for the payment of rewards authorized pursuant to Section 1547 of the Penal Code and Section 4417.
(b) The department may cooperate, and enter into interagency agreements, with other state agencies in carrying out this section, including, but not limited to, the Cal-TIP program of the Department of Fish and Game.
(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 243, Sec. 2. Effective July 21, 1994.)