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Public Law100th CongressCrime and Law Enforcement
S. 794Became Law

A bill to amend chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, to impose criminal penalties and provide a civil action for damage to religious property and for injury to persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs.

This bill became law

Filed
Comm.
Floor
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Law

What it doesSummary passed senate amended (May 18, 1988)

(Measure passed Senate, amended)

Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for: (1) intentionally defacing, damaging, or destroying (or attempting to deface, damage, or destroy) any religious real property because of the religious character of that property (provided the loss from such defacement, damage, or destruction exceeds $10,000); or (2) intentionally obstructing (or attempting to obstruct) any person's free exercise of religious beliefs.

Precludes any prosecution under this Act unless the Attorney General provides written notice that, in his judgment, prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure justice.

What just happenedJun 24, 1988

Became Public Law No: 100-346.

Who’s behind it

Sen. Metzenbaum, Howard M. [D-OH](D-OH)Sponsor
14 cosponsors11 D3 R
Read on Congress.gov
14cosponsors1committees21actions1amendments12subjects
  1. Jun 24, 1988PresidentE40000

    Became Public Law No: 100-346.

  2. Jun 24, 1988BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 100-346.

  3. Jun 24, 1988PresidentE30000

    Signed by President.

  4. Jun 24, 1988BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Jun 17, 1988FloorE20000

    Presented to President.

  6. Jun 17, 1988President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Jun 17, 1988Floor

    Measure Signed in Senate.

  8. Jun 14, 1988FloorH37100

    Passed House by Voice Vote.

  9. Jun 14, 1988Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: Passed House by Voice Vote.

  10. Jun 14, 1988FloorH30000

    Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.

  11. May 19, 1988Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  12. May 18, 1988Floor

    Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  13. May 18, 1988Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.

  14. Apr 27, 1988Calendars

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 638.

  15. Apr 27, 1988Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Byrd for Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-324.

    Judiciary Committee
  16. Apr 27, 1988Committee14000

    Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Byrd for Senator Biden with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 100-324.

    Judiciary Committee
  17. Mar 24, 1988Committee

    Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Judiciary Committee
  18. Feb 12, 1988Committee

    Subcommittee on Constitution. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

    Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Subcommittee
  19. Nov 17, 1987Committee

    Referred to Subcommittee on Constitution.

    Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights Subcommittee
  20. Mar 19, 1987IntroReferral

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

    Judiciary Committee
  21. Mar 19, 1987IntroReferral10000

    Introduced in Senate

Passed Senate amendedMay 18, 198835
(Measure passed Senate, amended)

Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for: (1) intentionally defacing, damaging, or destroying (or attempting to deface, damage, or destroy) any religious real property because of the religious character of that property (provided the loss from such defacement, damage, or destruction exceeds $10,000); or (2) intentionally obstructing (or attempting to obstruct) any person's free exercise of religious beliefs.

Precludes any prosecution under this Act unless the Attorney General provides written notice that, in his judgment, prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure justice.

Reported to Senate with amendment(s)Apr 27, 198801
(Reported to Senate from the Committee on the Judiciary with amendment, S. Rept. 100-324)

Amends the Federal criminal code to establish criminal penalties for: (1) intentionally defacing, damaging, or destroying (or attempting to deface, damage, or destroy) any religious real property because of the religious character of that property (provided the loss from such defacement, damage, or destruction exceeds $10,000); or (2) intentionally obstructing (or attempting to obstruct) any person's free exercise of religious beliefs.

Precludes any prosecution under this Act unless the Attorney General provides written notice that, in his judgment, prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure justice.

Introduced in SenateMar 19, 198700

Establishes criminal penalties for damaging or destroying religious property or interfering with any person's free exercise of religious beliefs.

Allows any person injured by such a violation to bring a civil action to recover damages.

A bill to amend chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, to impose criminal penalties a… — Informed