Bill > A00169

This bill modifies New York's penal law regarding cemetery desecration by making several key changes. Previously, cemetery desecration in the second degree only applied when damage exceeded $250, but now the law removes this monetary threshold, meaning any damage or theft at a cemetery can be considered a crime. The bill upgrades cemetery desecration in the second degree to a class E felony, which applies to any intentional damage to cemetery property or theft of property from a cemetery, regardless of its value. Additionally, the bill introduces a new offense of cemetery desecration in the first degree, which is a class D felony and applies when someone has been previously convicted of cemetery desecration in the second degree within the past five years. These changes broaden the legal protections for cemetery sites and increase potential penalties for those who damage or steal from these sacred spaces, reflecting a commitment to preserving the dignity and sanctity of burial grounds.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A169