File #: Int 1138-2013    Version: * Name: Prohibiting damage to religious property located on or within a private home.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 8/22/2013
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting damage to religious property located on or within a private home.
Sponsors: Stephen T. Levin, Lewis A. Fidler, Vincent J. Gentile, Sara M. Gonzalez, Letitia James, Peter A. Koo, Rosie Mendez, Michael C. Nelson, Annabel Palma, Deborah L. Rose, James Vacca, Ydanis A. Rodriguez, Peter F. Vallone, Jr.
Council Member Sponsors: 13
Int. No. 1138
 
By Council Members Levin, Fidler, Gentile, Gonzalez, James, Koo, Mendez, Nelson, Palma, Rose, Vacca, Rodriguez and Vallone
 
 
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting damage to religious property located on or within a private home.
 
 
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
 
      Section 1. Section 10-116 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:
§10-116. Damaging houses of religious worship or religious articles therein, or religious articles within or attached to a private home, prohibited.
a. Any person who wilfully and without authority breaks, defaces or otherwise damages any: (1) house of religious worship or any portion thereof, or any appurtenances thereto, including religious figures or religious monuments, or any book, scroll, ark, furniture, ornaments, musical instrument, article of silver or plated ware, or any other chattel contained therein for use in connection with religious worship[,]; or (2) religious articles, including but not limited to religious figures, monuments, books, scrolls, ornaments, musical instruments, or jewelry for use in connection with religious worship, that are within or attached to a private home, when such person knows or should know that such articles are commonly used for or in connection with religious worship, [or any person who knowingly aids, abets, conceals or in any way assists any such person] shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than one year or by a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred nor less than five hundred dollars, or both.
b.  Any person who knowingly aids, abets, conceals or in any way assists any person who acted in a manner prohibited by subdivision a of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than one year or by a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred nor less than five hundred dollars, or both.
c.  [In addition, any] Any person violating subdivision a or b of this section shall also be subject to a civil penalty of not less than ten thousand dollars and not more than twenty-five thousand dollars. Such civil penalty shall be in addition to any criminal penalty or sanction that may be imposed, and such civil penalty shall not limit or preclude any cause of action available to any person or entity aggrieved by any of the acts prohibited by this section.
§2.  This local law shall take effect immediately.
 
CJG
6/25/13
LS#4762