HB0238C -1- SCS CSHB 238(JUD) New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] 33-LS1101\S SENATE CS FOR CS FOR HOUSE BILL NO. 238(JUD) IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION BY THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE Offered: 5/7/24 Referred: Rules Sponsor(s): REPRESENTATIVES JOSEPHSON, Craig Johnson, Fields, Allard, Galvin, Wright, Schrage, Ortiz, Saddler, Cronk, Tomaszewski A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act relating to criminal mischief in the third degree; and providing for an effective 1 date." 2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3 * Section 1. AS 11.46.482(a) is amended to read: 4 (a) A person commits the crime of criminal mischief in the third degree if, 5 having no right to do so or any reasonable ground to believe the person has such a 6 right, 7 (1) with intent to damage property of another, the person damages 8 property of another in an amount of $750 or more; 9 (2) the person recklessly creates a risk of damage in an amount 10 exceeding $100,000 to property of another by the use of widely dangerous means; or 11 (3) the person knowingly 12 (A) defaces, damages, or desecrates a cemetery or the contents 13 of a cemetery or a tomb, grave, or memorial regardless of whether the tomb, 14 33-LS1101\S SCS CSHB 238(JUD) -2- HB0238C New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] grave, or memorial is in a cemetery or whether the cemetery, tomb, grave, or 1 memorial appears to be abandoned, lost, or neglected; 2 (B) removes human remains or associated burial artifacts from 3 a cemetery, tomb, grave, or memorial regardless of whether the cemetery, 4 tomb, grave, or memorial appears to be abandoned, lost, or neglected; 5 (C) defaces or damages real property that 6 (i) has a place of religious education or worship 7 located on it; and 8 (ii) if leased or used by a religious organization and 9 is part of a larger property, is the part of the property leased or 10 used by the religious organization, including the access to the entry 11 of that part of the property; or 12 (D) defaces or damages tangible personal property that has 13 religious significance and is used by a religious organization or displayed 14 for educational purposes. 15 * Sec. 2. AS 11.46.482(b) is amended to read: 16 (b) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under (a)(3) of this section that 17 the defendant, at the time of the offense, was 18 (1) an employee of the cemetery and was engaged in an authorized 19 activity on behalf of the cemetery; [OR] 20 (2) authorized by law or state permit to engage in the conduct; or 21 (3) an employee of a religious organization or the owner or 22 operator or employee of the owner or operator of real property or tangible 23 personal property under (a)(3)(C) or (D) of this section, and was engaged in an 24 authorized activity on behalf of the religious organization or the owner or 25 operator of the real property or tangible personal property. 26 * Sec. 3. This Act takes effect immediately under AS 01.10.070(c). 27