Int 0496-2014

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 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 shall take effect immediately. LS 154 CJG 3/25/14