File #: Int 0202-2018    Version: * Name: Prohibiting damage to houses of religious worship.
Type: Introduction Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on Public Safety
On agenda: 1/31/2018
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 houses of religious worship
Sponsors: Kalman Yeger , Joseph C. Borelli, David M. Carr
Council Member Sponsors: 3
Summary: This Local Law would amend administrative code section prohibiting damage to houses of worship to ensure language includes protection against damages to religious homes used primarily as residence for individuals devoted to religious life, such as convents and rectories.
Attachments: 1. Summary of Int. No. 202, 2. Int. No. 202, 3. January 31, 2018 - Stated Meeting Agenda, 4. Hearing Transcript - Stated Meeting 01-31-2018, 5. Minutes of the Stated Meeting - January 31, 2018

Int. No. 202

 

By Council Members Yeger, Borelli and Carr

 

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to prohibiting damage to houses of religious worship

 

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 prohibited.

a. Definitions.  For the purposes of this section the term “house of religious worship” shall mean (i) a church, temple, synagogue, mosque, or other building primarily used for religious services; or (ii) a convent, monastery, rectory, parsonage, or any other building used as the permanent dwelling of a group of people devoted to religious life.

b. Prohibition. Any person who [wilfully] willfully and without authority breaks, defaces or otherwise damages any 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 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. In addition, any person violating this section shall 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 takes effect immediately.

 

CJG/JDK

LS #154 / Int. 496/2014

LS # 578

12/22/17