Bill > A03073

This bill enhances criminal penalties for offenses committed at places of religious worship and cemeteries by modifying several sections of the New York penal law. Specifically, the bill expands the definitions of criminal mischief and larceny to include damages or theft of property from religious institutions, museums with religious purposes, and cemeteries, with varying degrees of severity based on the value and type of property involved. For criminal mischief, the law now includes specific protections for religious artifacts, scrolls, vestments, and other items used in religious worship, making damage to such items a more serious offense. Similarly, for larceny, the bill creates new categories of theft that target religious items and cemetery property, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors to felonies depending on the value of the stolen items and the specific circumstances. The bill also creates new degrees of cemetery desecration, including first, second, and third-degree offenses, with increasingly severe penalties for repeat offenders or more significant damage. Additionally, the bill provides guidelines for sentencing and potential community service options for those convicted of these offenses, with a focus on restitution and respect for religious and memorial spaces.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A3073