HF 2579 (LSB 6079YH (7) 91)

HOUSE FILE 2579

BY  NORDMAN

A BILL FOR

An Act prohibiting disorderly conduct related to religious services, and providing penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  723.7  Disorderly conduct —— religious services.
   1.  A person shall not intentionally engage in conduct that substantially obstructs, prevents, or interferes with the orderly conduct of a religious service or assembly, including by creating persistent or unreasonable noise, physically obstructing an entrance, or creating a reasonable apprehension of danger among congregants.
   2.  A person who commits a violation of this section commits a class “D” felony.
EXPLANATION
The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
   Under current law, disorderly conduct is punishable by a range of penalties from simple misdemeanor to class “C” felony based on the nature of the offense (Code sections 723.4 and 723.5).
   This bill provides that a person who intentionally obstructs, prevents, or interferes with the orderly conduct of a religious service or assembly, including by creating persistent or unreasonable noise, physically obstructing an entrance, or creating a reasonable apprehension of danger among congregants, is guilty of a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245.