What's happening
This bill makes it a class C felony to damage or steal property commemorating a historically or culturally significant person.
Why it matters
Raises the stakes for vandalism or theft of commemorative property. By making it a class C felony, the bill significantly increases the legal consequences for damaging or stealing monuments, markers, or signs tied to historically or culturally significant individuals, potentially deterring such acts.
Broad and inclusive definition of protected property. The law applies to both real and personal property, and explicitly includes items related to any person—living or dead—with historical or cultural significance, making the scope much broader than just statues or plaques for famous figures.
Could affect public debates over controversial monuments. As the law does not distinguish between different types of historical significance, it could apply equally to monuments that are subjects of ongoing social and political debate, impacting protest actions and possibly leading to contentious prosecutions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Felony for Defacing Monuments
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Protect Historical Monuments
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor David DiPietro
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3990
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 22, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to desecration of property commemorating a historical figure
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 145.75 to read as follows: § 145.75 Desecration of property commemorating a historical figure.
A person is guilty of desecration of property commemorating a historical figure when with intent to damage property of another person, and having no right to do so nor any reasonable ground to believe that he has such right, he:
(a) damages any real or personal property, including but not limited to any commemorative monument, marker or street sign, relating to any person, living or dead, who has historical or cultural significance; or
(b) with intent to steal personal property, he steals personal property, including but not limited to any commemorative monument, marker or street sign, relating to any person, living or dead, who has historical or cultural significance.
Desecration of property commemorating a historical figure is a class C felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02953-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to dese- cration of property commemorating a historical figure
Purpose
This legislation establishes the crime of desecration of property commemorating a historical figure to be a class C felony.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Adds a new section to the penal establishing the crime of desecration of property commemorating a historical figure to be a class C felony.
Section 2. Establishes the effective date.
Justification
Desecrating of property commemorating a historical figure is already against the law and destroys our history. This bill would help to deter such crimes by making the penalty for such desecration of property commemorating a historical figure a class C felony.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.7567/A.8799 Referred to Codes
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.