Pub. L. 115-249 - Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2018

115th Congress

Affects: 18 U.S.C. §§ 247

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2018”.

SEC. 2. PROTECTION OF COMMUNITY CENTERS WITH RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION.

Section 247 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting after “threat of force,” the following: “including by threat of force against religious real property,”;

(2) in subsection (d)—

(2)(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting “or (c)” after “subsection (a)”;

(2)(B) in paragraph (3), by striking “and” at the end;

(2)(C) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

(2)(D) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

(2)(D)“(4) if damage to or destruction of property results from the acts committed in violation of this section, which damage to or destruction of such property is in an amount that exceeds $5,000, a fine in accordance with this title, imprisonment for not more than 3 years, or both; and”

(2)(D) ; and

(3) in subsection (f), by inserting before the period at the end the following: “, or real property owned or leased by a nonprofit, religiously affiliated organization”.

Legislative History

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 994 (H.R. 1730):

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):

Sept. 4, considered and passed Senate.

Sept. 7, considered and passed House.