Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2017/S1786
Timestamp: 2020-07-02 22:39:44
Document Index: 250744243

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2', '§ 145', '§ 3', '§ 145', '§ 4', '§ 145', '§ 5', '§ 145', '§ 6', '§ 60', '§ 7', '§  8', '§ 9', '§ 155', '§  10', '§ 11']

NY State Senate Bill S1786
senate Bill S1786
Enhances criminal penalties for criminal mischief and larceny offenses committed at a place of religious worship
Get Status Alerts for S1786
Mar 07, 2017 ordered to third reading cal.401
S1786 (ACTIVE) - Details
2011-2012: S6338, A9288
2013-2014: S2368, A3514
2015-2016: S1104, A6074, A248, A10388
2019-2020: S502, A3550
S1786 (ACTIVE) - Summary
Enhances criminal penalties for criminal mischief and larceny offenses committed at a place of religious worship and for cemetery desecration.
S1786 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:  S1786
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to criminal mischief and
larceny offenses committed at a place of religious worship and to
The purpose of this bill is two-fold. First, to enhance the criminal
penalties for damaging property in any house of worship and to
heighten the criminal penalties for stealing or damaging religious
objects from within a house of worship or its curtilage. Second, to
add a heightened criminal penalty for desecrating a cemetery with the
intent to steal property within such cemetery or incur damage of
property that is valued over $2,000.
Section 1: Adds a new Penal Law section 145.05(3) that relates to
criminal mischief in the 3rd Degree. This provision makes it the crime
of criminal mischief in the 3rd degree if anyone damages any property,
regardless of its nature or value, in any building, structure, or upon
the curtilage of such building that is used as a place of religious
worship. This type of criminal mischief is a class E felony. Under
current law, the property must have a value exceeding $250 or a
similar crime had been committed previously by the same person.
Section 2: Amends Penal Law section 145.10 that relates to criminal
mischief in the 2nd Degree. This provision makes it a crime of
criminal mischief in the 2nd Degree if any damage occurs specifically
to a scroll, religious vestment, vessel, an item comprising of a
display or a religious symbol, or any other item kept or used in
connection with religious worship in any building, structure, or upon
the cuitiage of such building that is used as a place of worship,
regardless of the value of such property. Under current law, such
property must have a value of $1,500 or more to be convicted of this
crime. While under this bill, any specifically articulated religious
items damaged would trigger this crime. This type of crime is a class
Section 3: Amends Penal Law section 145.22 to redesignate the crime of
cemetery desecration in the second degree to become cemetery
desecration in the third degree. In addition, it makes this statute
more specific as to the kinds of property that is included within the
purview of this statute. Cemetery desecration in the third degree is a
Section 4: Amends Penal Law section 145.23 to redesignate the crime of
cemetery desecration in the first degree to become cemetery
desecration in the second degree. In addition, it makes this statute
purview of this statute. under current law and this bill, this
provision relates to damaged or stolen property within a cemetery that
is valued at above $250. Cemetery desecration in the second degree is
a E Felony.
Section 5: Adds a new Penal Law section 145.24 entitled Cemetery
desecration in the first degree. Under this new crime, cemetery
property or property located within a cemetery valued at more than
$2,000 that is damaged or stolen by a perpetrator will be punishable
as a class D Felony.
Section 6: Amends Penal Law section 60.29 to include conforming
changes that make reference to the new crime categories created under
Section 7: Amends Penal Law section 65.10 to allow a court to impose
on those who violate Penal Law Article 145 a community service
requirement to be served at a desecrated cemetery to help compensate
for their property losses as a condition for probation or conditional
Section 8: Amends Penal Law section 155.30(9) that relates to grand
larceny in the fourth degree. Violation of this section of the Penal
Law is a class E Felony. Under current law, this section is violated
if specific religious property such as a scroll, religious vestment,
vessel or other item is stolen and such item has a value of $100 or
more and it is used in connection with religious worship. Under the
Provisions of this bill, any property taken from structure or building
used for religious worship, regardless of the property's value or what
the property is, is considered to be a violation of Penal Law section
155.30.
Section 9: Amends Penal Law section 155.35 that relates to grand
larceny in the 3rd Degree. Under this bill, certain specified
religious property such as a scroll, religious vestment, vessel or
other religious items that is stolen from a house of worship,
regardless of its value, shall be a class D felony. Currently, under
this section of law, the property must have a value in excess of
Section 10: Amends Penal Law section 155.40(2) that relates to grand
larceny in the 2nd degree. This provision heightens the penalty for
the theft of specific religious items in a house of worship such as a
scroll, vestment, vessel and other items that represent a religious
faith and such items have a value of $250.00 and such items are used
in connection with religious worship in any house of worship.
Violation of this crime is a class C felony. Under current law, the
value of such Property must be more than $50,000 or such property was
obtained my means such as extortion.
It is important for us, as a society, to impose the appropriate
criminal sanctions for those persons who: a) willfully enter into a
house of worship to either destroy any property in such building or
structure that serves as a house of worship or, b)to desecrate a
cemetery by either destroying property located within such cemetery or
stealing property for the perpetrator's own profit. Further, for those
that enter into a house of worship or a cemetery to steal any items,
especially religious items, the criminal penalties for such acts need
to be enhanced.
Many religious congregations wish to keep their houses of worship open
to the public for at least part of the week and for general
convenience so that members of their community or the public at large
may enter into a house of worship to reflect or to pray. With all of
our busy schedules, it is important that such houses of worship can
remain open at convenient times during the week so that we may all
have the ability to enter into such houses to reflect and to pray.
Recently, there has been a series of violations of houses of worship
in the Bronx and the theft of sacred religious property and other
types of damage to such houses of God. It is important for us, as a
society, to protect religious houses so that they may remain open for
all of us to use. Further, such places must be protected from acts of
violence, or the destruction of their property, especially sacred
religious property. Much of this property has not only religious
significance, which merits its enhanced protection, but historical and
cultural significance. Further, much of these religious items are
irreplaceable. These religious places of worship must be protected for
the benefit of our communities and so that they may be used by future
This bill also enhances the penalties for those who damage cemetery
property, steal such property for the perpetrator's own profit, or
have been convicted of repeated property crime offenses against
cemeteries. With the increasing value of scrap metals such as brass,
copper, bronze and iron, there has been an increasing number thefts of
valuable metals from such cemeteries. Items such as plaques, vases,
flag holders, badges, shields and other metal items within a cemetery
have been subject to a heightened number of thefts in recent years.
Under current law, the monetary threshold for the crimes of cemetery
desecration are relatively low since the general public views theft or
damage of property within such burial places as a more serious event.
However, for those who steal or illegally remove valuable metals and
other property from such cemeteries for profit, the penalty is the
same whether $250 of property has been stolen or $100,000 worth of
such memorials, metals, and other property. This bill heightens the
criminal sanctions for those who are entering into cemeteries to steal
valuable metals and other items for profit.
2015-2016: S. 1104 - Passed Senate
2014 - S.2368, Passed Senate
Similar to S. 6338 of 2012, Passed Senate
the date upon which it shall have become law.
S1786 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
Introduced  by  Sens.  KLEIN,  ADDABBO,  DIAZ, FELDER, GOLDEN, KAMINSKY,
LARKIN, MARCELLINO, STAVISKY -- read twice and  ordered  printed,  and
AN  ACT  to  amend  the  penal law, in relation to criminal mischief and
larceny offenses committed at a place  of  religious  worship  and  to
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of  section  145.05  of  the  penal  law,  as
amended  by chapter 276 of the laws of 2003, is amended and a new subdi-
vision 3 is added to read as follows:
2. damages property of another  person  in  an  amount  exceeding  two
hundred fifty dollars[.]; OR
3.  DAMAGES  PROPERTY  WHICH, REGARDLESS OF ITS NATURE OR VALUE, IS IN
ANY BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR UPON THE CURTILAGE OF SUCH BUILDING OR STRUC-
TURE USED AS A PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP BY A RELIGIOUS CORPORATION, AS
§ 2. Section 145.10 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 961 of the
§ 145.10 Criminal mischief in the second degree.
intent to damage property of another person, and having no right  to  do
so  nor  any reasonable ground to believe that he OR SHE has such right,
1. damages property of another person in an amount exceeding one thou-
sand five hundred dollars[.]; OR
2. DAMAGES PROPERTY WHICH CONSISTS OF A SCROLL, A RELIGIOUS  VESTMENT,
A  VESSEL, AN ITEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS WHICH FORMS
A REPRESENTATIVE EXPRESSION OF FAITH OR ANY OTHER ITEM KEPT OR  USED  IN
CONNECTION WITH RELIGIOUS WORSHIP IN ANY BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR UPON THE
CURTILAGE  OF  SUCH  BUILDING  OR STRUCTURE USED AS A PLACE OF RELIGIOUS
LBD01245-01-7
S. 1786                             2
WORSHIP BY A RELIGIOUS CORPORATION, AS INCORPORATED UNDER THE  RELIGIOUS
CORPORATIONS LAW OR THE EDUCATION LAW.
§ 3. Section 145.22 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 353 of the
§ 145.22 Cemetery desecration in the [second] THIRD degree.
A  person  is  guilty  of  cemetery  desecration in the [second] THIRD
degree when:  (a) with intent to damage property  of  another  person[,]
and  having  no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that
he OR SHE has such right, he OR SHE damages any real or personal proper-
ty USED OR maintained as a cemetery, MAUSOLEUM, COLUMBARIUM, LOT,  plot,
grave,  burial place, CRYPT, VAULT or other place of interment OR TEMPO-
RARY STORAGE of human remains OR CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS,  OR  ANY  MONU-
MENT,  HEADSTONE,  MARKER,  PLAQUE,  STATUE, VASE, URN, DECORATION, FLAG
HOLDER, OR OTHER EMBELLISHMENT THAT IS LOCATED ON OR ADJACENT TO, OR  IS
OTHERWISE  ASSOCIATED  WITH,  ANY SUCH CEMETERY, MAUSOLEUM, COLUMBARIUM,
LOT, PLOT, GRAVE, BURIAL PLACE, CRYPT, VAULT, OR OTHER PLACE  OF  INTER-
MENT OR TEMPORARY STORAGE; or
(b)  with intent to steal personal property, he OR SHE steals personal
property which is located at a cemetery,  MAUSOLEUM,  COLUMBARIUM,  LOT,
plot,  grave,  burial place, CRYPT, VAULT or other place of interment OR
TEMPORARY STORAGE of human remains OR CREMATED  HUMAN  REMAINS,  OR  ANY
MONUMENT, HEADSTONE, MARKER, PLAQUE, STATUE, VASE, URN, DECORATION, FLAG
HOLDER,  OR OTHER EMBELLISHMENT THAT IS LOCATED ON OR ADJACENT TO, OR IS
OTHERWISE ASSOCIATED WITH, ANY SUCH  CEMETERY,  MAUSOLEUM,  COLUMBARIUM,
LOT,  PLOT,  GRAVE, BURIAL PLACE, CRYPT, VAULT, OR OTHER PLACE OF INTER-
MENT OR TEMPORARY STORAGE, and which property is owned by the person  or
organization  which maintains or owns such place or the estate, next-of-
kin or representatives of the deceased person interred OR STORED there.
Cemetery desecration in the [second] THIRD degree is a class A  misde-
§ 4. Section 145.23 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 353 of the
§ 145.23 Cemetery desecration in the [first] SECOND degree.
A  person  is  guilty  of  cemetery  desecration in the [first] SECOND
degree when, with intent to damage property  of  another  person[,]  and
(a)  damages  any  real  or  personal property USED OR maintained as a
cemetery, MAUSOLEUM, COLUMBARIUM, LOT, plot, grave, burial place, CRYPT,
VAULT or other place of interment OR TEMPORARY STORAGE of human  remains
OR  CREMATED  HUMAN REMAINS, OR ANY MONUMENT, HEADSTONE, MARKER, PLAQUE,
STATUE, VASE, URN, DECORATION, FLAG HOLDER, OR OTHER EMBELLISHMENT  THAT
IS  LOCATED ON OR ADJACENT TO, OR IS OTHERWISE ASSOCIATED WITH, ANY SUCH
VAULT, OR OTHER PLACE OF INTERMENT OR TEMPORARY STORAGE,  in  an  amount
located at a cemetery, MAUSOLEUM, COLUMBARIUM, LOT, plot, grave,  burial
place,  CRYPT, VAULT or other place of interment OR TEMPORARY STORAGE of
human remains OR CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS,  OR  ANY  MONUMENT,  HEADSTONE,
MARKER,  PLAQUE,  STATUE,  VASE,  URN, DECORATION, FLAG HOLDER, OR OTHER
EMBELLISHMENT THAT IS LOCATED ON OR ADJACENT TO, OR IS OTHERWISE ASSOCI-
ATED WITH, ANY SUCH CEMETERY, MAUSOLEUM, COLUMBARIUM, LOT, PLOT,  GRAVE,
BURIAL  PLACE,  CRYPT,  VAULT,  OR OTHER PLACE OF INTERMENT OR TEMPORARY
S. 1786                             3
STORAGE, and which property is owned by the person or organization which
maintains or owns such place or the  estate,  next-of-kin  or  represen-
tatives of the deceased person interred there; or
(c)  commits  the  crime of cemetery desecration in the [second] THIRD
degree as defined in section 145.22 of this article and has been  previ-
ously  convicted  of  the  crime of cemetery desecration in the [second]
THIRD degree, CEMETERY DESECRATION  IN  THE  SECOND  DEGREE,  AGGRAVATED
CEMETERY  DESECRATION  IN THE SECOND DEGREE OR AGGRAVATED CEMETERY DESE-
CRATION IN THE FIRST DEGREE within the preceding five years.
Cemetery desecration in the [first] SECOND degree is a class E felony.
§ 5. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 145.24  to  read
§ 145.24 CEMETERY DESECRATION IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
A  PERSON  IS GUILTY OF CEMETERY DESECRATION IN THE FIRST DEGREE WHEN,
WITH INTENT TO DAMAGE PROPERTY OF ANOTHER PERSON AND HAVING NO RIGHT  TO
DO  SO  NOR  ANY  REASONABLE  GROUND  TO BELIEVE THAT HE OR SHE HAS SUCH
RIGHT, HE OR SHE:
(A) DAMAGES ANY REAL OR PERSONAL PROPERTY  USED  OR  MAINTAINED  AS  A
VAULT  OR OTHER PLACE OF INTERMENT OR TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HUMAN REMAINS
OR CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS, OR ANY MONUMENT, HEADSTONE,  MARKER,  PLAQUE,
STATUE,  VASE, URN, DECORATION, FLAG HOLDER, OR OTHER EMBELLISHMENT THAT
IS LOCATED ON OR ADJACENT TO, OR IS OTHERWISE ASSOCIATED WITH, ANY  SUCH
VAULT,  OR  OTHER  PLACE OF INTERMENT OR TEMPORARY STORAGE, IN AN AMOUNT
EXCEEDING TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS; OR
(B) WITH INTENT TO STEAL PERSONAL PROPERTY, HE OR SHE STEALS  PERSONAL
PROPERTY,  THE  VALUE  OF  WHICH  EXCEEDS TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH IS
MARKER, MEMORIAL, PLAQUE, STATUE, VASE, URN, DECORATION, FLAG HOLDER, OR
OTHER  EMBELLISHMENT  THAT IS LOCATED ON OR ADJACENT TO, OR IS OTHERWISE
ASSOCIATED WITH, ANY SUCH CEMETERY, MAUSOLEUM, COLUMBARIUM,  LOT,  PLOT,
GRAVE, BURIAL PLACE, CRYPT, VAULT, OR OTHER PLACE OF INTERMENT OR TEMPO-
RARY  STORAGE, AND WHICH PROPERTY IS OWNED BY THE PERSON OR ORGANIZATION
WHICH MAINTAINS OR OWNS SUCH PLACE OR THE ESTATE, NEXT-OF-KIN OR  REPRE-
SENTATIVES OF THE DECEASED PERSON INTERRED THERE; OR
(C)  COMMITS THE CRIME OF CEMETERY DESECRATION IN THE SECOND DEGREE AS
DEFINED IN SECTION 145.23  OF  THIS  ARTICLE  AND  HAS  BEEN  PREVIOUSLY
CONVICTED  OF  THE  CRIME  OF  CEMETERY DESECRATION IN THE THIRD DEGREE,
CEMETERY DESECRATION IN THE SECOND DEGREE, CEMETERY DESECRATION  IN  THE
FIRST  DEGREE,  AGGRAVATED  CEMETERY DESECRATION IN THE SECOND DEGREE OR
CEMETERY DESECRATION IN THE FIRST DEGREE IS A CLASS D FELONY.
§ 6. Section 60.29 of the penal law, as added by chapter  165  of  the
§ 60.29 Authorized disposition; cemetery desecration.
When  a  person  is  convicted of an offense defined in section 145.22
[or], 145.23, OR 145.24 of this chapter or of an attempt to commit  such
an  offense,  and  the sentence imposed by the court for such conviction
includes a sentence of probation or conditional discharge, such sentence
shall, where appropriate, be in accordance with paragraph (h) of  subdi-
vision  two  of  section  65.10  of this [article] TITLE as such section
relates to cemetery crime.
S. 1786                             4
§ 7. Paragraph (h) of subdivision 2 of section 65.10 of the penal law,
as amended by chapter 508 of the laws of 2001, is  amended  to  read  as
ciation,  institution,  or agency, including but not limited to services
for the division of substance abuse services, services in an appropriate
community program for removal of graffiti from public or private proper-
ty, including  any  property  damaged  in  the  underlying  offense,  or
services  for  the  maintenance  and repair of real or personal property
USED OR maintained as a cemetery,  MAUSOLEUM,  COLUMBARIUM,  LOT,  plot,
RARY  STORAGE  of  human remains OR CREMATED HUMAN REMAINS, OR ANY MONU-
MENT, HEADSTONE, MARKER, PLAQUE, STATUE,  VASE,  URN,  DECORATION,  FLAG
MENT OR TEMPORARY STORAGE.  Provided, however, that the  performance  of
any such services shall not result in the displacement of employed work-
ers  or  in the impairment of existing contracts for services, nor shall
the performance of any such services be required  or  permitted  in  any
establishment  involved  in  any labor strike or lockout.  The court may
establish  provisions  for  the  early  termination  of  a  sentence  of
probation  or conditional discharge pursuant to the provisions of subdi-
vision three of section 410.90 of the criminal procedure law after  such
services  have  been  completed.  Such sentence may only be imposed upon
conviction of a misdemeanor, violation, or class D or class E felony, or
a youthful offender finding replacing any  such  conviction,  where  the
defendant has consented to the amount and conditions of such service;
§  8.  Subdivision 9 of section 155.30 of the penal law, as amended by
chapter 479 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
9. The property [consists of a scroll, religious vestment,  a  vessel,
an  item  comprising a display of religious symbols which forms a repre-
sentative expression of faith, or other miscellaneous item  of  property
(b)  is  kept  for  or  used in connection with religious worship in],
REGARDLESS OF ITS NATURE OR VALUE, IS TAKEN FROM any building, structure
or upon the curtilage of such building or structure used as a  place  of
religious  worship by a religious corporation, as incorporated under the
religious corporations law or the education law.
§ 9. Section 155.35 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 464 of the
§ 155.35 Grand larceny in the third degree.
1. when the value of the property exceeds three  thousand  dollars[,];
3.  THE PROPERTY CONSISTS OF A SCROLL, A RELIGIOUS VESTMENT, A VESSEL,
AN ITEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS WHICH FORM A REPRESEN-
TATIVE EXPRESSION OF FAITH OR ANY OTHER ITEM KEPT OR USED IN  CONNECTION
WITH  RELIGIOUS WORSHIP IN ANY BUILDING, STRUCTURE OR UPON THE CURTILAGE
OF SUCH BUILDING OR STRUCTURE USED AS A PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP BY  A
RELIGIOUS  CORPORATION, AS INCORPORATED UNDER THE RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS
LAW OR THE EDUCATION LAW.
S. 1786                             5
§  10. Subdivision 2 of section 155.40 of the penal law, as amended by
chapter 515 of the laws of 1986, is amended and a new subdivision  3  is
2.  The  property,  regardless of its nature and value, is obtained by
another person will (a) cause physical injury  to  some  person  in  the
future,  or  (b) cause damage to property, or (c) use or abuse his posi-
tion as a public servant by engaging in conduct within or related to his
official duties, or by failing or refusing to perform an official  duty,
in such manner as to affect some person adversely[.]; OR
AN ITEM COMPRISING A DISPLAY OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS WHICH FORMS  A  REPRE-
SENTATIVE EXPRESSION OF FAITH, OR OTHER ITEM OF PROPERTY WHICH:
(A) HAS A VALUE OF AT LEAST TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS; AND
§ 11. This act shall  take  effect  on  the  first  of  November  next