Bill Text: CT SB01110 | 2015 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning The Desecration Of Property Located In A Cemetery.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-19 - Public Hearing 03/23 [SB01110 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2015-SB01110-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 1110
January Session, 2015		LCO No. 5389
		*05389_______JUD*
Referred to Committee on JUDICIARY
Introduced by:
(JUD)

AN ACT CONCERNING THE DESECRATION OF PROPERTY LOCATED IN A CEMETERY.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 53a-218 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2015):

(a) A person is guilty of interference with a cemetery or burial ground when [he] such person, without having authorization [of the] from an individual or entity, in the following order of priority: (1) The owner of the burial lot, [or] (2) the surviving spouse of the deceased, (3) a lineal descendant of the deceased, or [of] (4) the municipality, cemetery association or person or authority responsible for the control or management of the cemetery or burial ground [: (1) Intentionally] (A) intentionally destroys, mutilates, defaces, injures or removes any tomb, monument, gravestone or other structure placed or designed for a memorial of the dead, or any portion or fragment thereof, or any fence, railing, curb or other enclosure for the burial of the dead, in or from any cemetery or burial ground; or [(2)] (B) wantonly or maliciously disturbs the contents of any tomb or grave in any cemetery or burial ground.

(b) Interference with a cemetery or burial ground is a class [C felony] A misdemeanor and any person found guilty under this section shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	October 1, 2015	53a-218

Statement of Purpose:

To clarify the state statute relating to interference with a cemetery or burial ground in order to ensure that law enforcement personnel take proper action in responding to a complaint alleging a violation of the statute.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]