WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor                        S.B. 141

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1992 Replacement Volume and 1993 Supplement)

BY adding to repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments
Section 561B 470A(b) and 594B(i)(2)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1992 Replacement Volume and 1993 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article 27 - Crimes and Punishments

[10.

(a)     A person may not burn or cause to be burned any cross or other religious
symbol on any private or public property within the State without the express consent of
the owner of the property and without first giving notice to the fire department which
services the area in which the burning is to take place.

(b)     A person who violates this section is guilty of a felony and on conviction is
subject to a fine of not more than $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than 3 years or
both.]

561B.

(A) UNLESS A PERSON HAS THE AUTHORIZATION OF THE OWNER, A PERSON
MAY NOT PLACE OR DISPLAY A SIGN, MARK, SYMBOL, EMBLEM, OR OTHER OBJECT,
INCLUDING A BURNING CROSS, ON ANY PRIVATE OR PUBLIC PROPERTY WITHIN THE
STATE FOR THE PURPOSE OF:

(1) INTIMIDATING, OR THREATENING OTHERS; OR

(2) CAUSING A PERSON TO FEAR FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, HARM TO
PERSONAL PROPERTY, OR SAFETY OF THIRD PERSONS.

(B)      A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY AND ON
CONVICTION IS SUBJECT TO A FINE OF NOT MORE THAN $5,000 OR IMPRISONMENT
FOR NOT MORE THAN 3 YEARS OR BOTH.

470A.

(b) A person may not:

(1)     Deface, damage, or destroy or attempt to deface, damage, or destroy
religious real or personal property that is owned, leased, or used by a religious entity;

(2)     Obstruct, or attempt to obstruct by force or threat of force, a person in
the free exercise of that person's religious beliefs;

(3)     Harass or commit a crime upon a person or damage the real or personal
property of:

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