H.F. 2579 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 723.7 Disorderly conduct —— 1 religious services. 2 1. A person shall not intentionally engage in conduct that 3 substantially obstructs, prevents, or interferes with the 4 orderly conduct of a religious service or assembly, including 5 by creating persistent or unreasonable noise, physically 6 obstructing an entrance, or creating a reasonable apprehension 7 of danger among congregants. 8 2. A person who commits a violation of this section commits 9 a class “D” felony. 10 EXPLANATION 11 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 12 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 13 Under current law, disorderly conduct is punishable by a 14 range of penalties from simple misdemeanor to class “C” felony 15 based on the nature of the offense (Code sections 723.4 and 16 723.5). 17 This bill provides that a person who intentionally 18 obstructs, prevents, or interferes with the orderly conduct 19 of a religious service or assembly, including by creating 20 persistent or unreasonable noise, physically obstructing an 21 entrance, or creating a reasonable apprehension of danger among 22 congregants, is guilty of a class “D” felony. A class “D” 23 felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years 24 and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245. 25 -1- LSB 6079YH (7) 91 sc/ns 1/ 1