Crimes: disturbing religious worship.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
Public Safety
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Create an account to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill amends California law to increase the penalties for disturbing religious worship. Currently, such actions are a misdemeanor. The bill would make them a felony, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and imprisonment of up to three years, and would also allow for increased community service requirements. It also clarifies that local agencies will not be required to reimburse the state for any costs associated with this change.
Key provisions
- Increases the penalty for disturbing religious worship from a misdemeanor to a felony.
- Increases the maximum fine for the offense to $5,000.
- Increases the maximum imprisonment term to three years.
- Allows for community service as an alternative to fines or imprisonment.
- Requires a previous conviction to trigger enhanced community service requirements.
- Specifies how prior convictions must be alleged in legal proceedings.
- Allows courts to order community service at the site of the disturbance with victim consent.
- Provides for judicial waivers of mandatory community service requirements.
Who is affected
- Individuals engaging in disruptive behavior at religious gatherings.
- Religious organizations and places of worship.
- Local law enforcement agencies.
- Individuals subject to community service requirements.
- Defendants facing criminal charges
Bill text
Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
Text extraction is in progress. View the official source.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
7 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Arguments
Reasons offered for and against this legislation.
Arguments in favor
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yours