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S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
10785
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 1, 2026
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Introduced by M. of A. NORBER, CHANG, BROOK-KRASNY, NOVAKHOV -- read
once and referred to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to the crimes of disruption
or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or memorial
service in the first and second degrees
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
1 Section 1. Section 240.00 of the penal law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 8 to read as follows:
3 8. "PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP" MEANS ANY BUILDING, STRUCTURE, OR
4 PORTION THEREOF, THAT IS REGULARLY USED BY A RELIGIOUS CORPORATION, AS
5 INCORPORATED UNDER THE RELIGIOUS CORPORATIONS LAW OR THE EDUCATION LAW,
6 FOR PURPOSES OF CONDUCTING RELIGIOUS SERVICES, CEREMONIES, OR OTHER
7 FORMS OF RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCE OR PRAYER.
8 § 2. Section 240.21 of the penal law, as amended by chapter 566 of the
9 laws of 2008, the opening paragraph as amended by chapter 528 of the
10 laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
11 § 240.21 Disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral,
12 burial or memorial service IN THE SECOND DEGREE.
13 A person is guilty of disruption or disturbance of a religious
14 service, funeral, burial or memorial service IN THE SECOND DEGREE when
15 [he or she] SUCH PERSON makes unreasonable noise or disturbance while at
16 a lawfully assembled religious service, funeral, burial or memorial
17 service, or within [three] FIVE hundred feet thereof, with intent to
18 cause annoyance or alarm or recklessly creating a risk thereof.
19 Disruption or disturbance of a religious service, funeral, burial or
20 memorial service IN THE SECOND DEGREE is a class A misdemeanor.
21 § 3. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.22 to read
22 as follows:
23 § 240.22 DISRUPTION OR DISTURBANCE OF A RELIGIOUS SERVICE, FUNERAL,
24 BURIAL OR MEMORIAL SERVICE IN THE FIRST DEGREE.
25 A PERSON IS GUILTY OF DISRUPTION OR DISTURBANCE OF A RELIGIOUS
26 SERVICE, FUNERAL, BURIAL OR MEMORIAL SERVICE IN THE FIRST DEGREE WHEN
27 SUCH PERSON MAKES UNREASONABLE NOISE OR DISTURBANCE WHILE AT A LAWFULLY
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15275-01-6
A. 10785 2
1 ASSEMBLED RELIGIOUS SERVICE, FUNERAL, BURIAL OR MEMORIAL SERVICE, OR
2 WITHIN FIVE HUNDRED FEET THEREOF, WITH INTENT TO CAUSE ANNOYANCE OR
3 ALARM OR RECKLESSLY CREATING A RISK THEREOF, AND
4 1. INTERFERES WITH ACCESS TO A PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP THEREBY
5 PREVENTING ANOTHER PERSON FROM EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
6 THEREIN; OR
7 2. IS PART OF A GROUP OR GROUPS OF TWO OR MORE PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING OR
8 PREPARING TO DEMONSTRATE OUTSIDE OF A PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP,
9 INCLUDING ITS PARKING LOT ENTRANCES, DRIVEWAYS, DRIVEWAY ENTRANCES, AND
10 ANY OTHER PUBLIC WAY THAT COMES IN CONTACT WITH SUCH FACILITIES.
11 DISRUPTION OR DISTURBANCE OF A RELIGIOUS SERVICE, FUNERAL, BURIAL OR
12 MEMORIAL SERVICE IN THE FIRST DEGREE IS A CLASS E FELONY.
13 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.