(a) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to provide local law enforcement and district attorneys with the tools necessary to successfully interdict the promulgation of high technology crime. According to the federal Law Enforcement Training Center, it is expected that states will see a tremendous growth in high technology crimes over the next few years as computers become more available and computer users more skilled in utilizing technology to commit these faceless crimes. High technology crimes are those crimes in which technology is used as an instrument in committing, or assisting in the commission of, a crime, or which is the target of a criminal act.

(b) Funds provided under this program are intended to ensure that law enforcement is equipped with the necessary personnel and equipment to successfully combat high technology crime which includes, but is not limited to, the following offenses:

(1) White-collar crime, such as check, automated teller machine, and credit card fraud, committed by means of electronic or computer-related media.

(2) Unlawful access, destruction of or unauthorized entry into and use of private, corporate, or government computers and networks, including wireless and wireline communications networks and law enforcement dispatch systems, and the theft, interception, manipulation, destruction, or unauthorized disclosure of data stored within those computers and networks.

(3) Money laundering accomplished with the aid of computer networks or electronic banking transfers.

(4) Theft and resale of telephone calling codes, theft of telecommunications service, theft of wireless communication service, and theft of cable television services by manipulation of the equipment used to receive those services.

(5) Software piracy and other unlawful duplication of information.

(6) Theft and resale of computer components and other high technology products produced by the high technology industry.

(7) Remarking and counterfeiting of computer hardware and software.

(8) Theft of trade secrets.

(c) This program is also intended to provide support to law enforcement agencies by providing technical assistance to those agencies with respect to the seizure and analysis of computer systems used to commit high technology crimes or store evidence relating to those crimes.

(Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 555, Sec. 2. Effective September 18, 1998.)