ASSEMBLY, No. 4610 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 220th LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 ASSEMBLY, No. 4610 STATE OF NEW JERSEY 220th LEGISLATURE INTRODUCED SEPTEMBER 22, 2022 Sponsored by: Assemblywoman MICHELE MATSIKOUDIS District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union) SYNOPSIS Makes desecration of military monument crime of the third degree. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. Sponsored by: Assemblywoman MICHELE MATSIKOUDIS District 21 (Morris, Somerset and Union) SYNOPSIS Makes desecration of military monument crime of the third degree. CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT As introduced. An Act concerning desecration of venerated objects and amending N.J.S.2C:33-9. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. N.J.S.2C:33-9 is amended to reads as follows: 2C:33-9. Desecration of Venerated Objects. A person commits a disorderly persons offense if he purposely desecrates any public monument, insignia, symbol, or structure, or place of worship or burial. A person commits a crime of the third degree if he purposely desecrates a military monument. "Desecrate" means defacing, damaging or polluting. "Military monument" means any monument that was erected with the intent to honor a current or former member or members of the armed forces or to mark or commemorate a past military action or battle. (cf: N.J.S.2C:33-9) 2. This act shall take effect immediately. STATEMENT This bill makes purposely desecrating a military monument a crime of the third degree. As used in the bill, the term "military monument" means any monument that was erected with the intent to honor a current or former member or members of the armed forces or to mark or commemorate a past military action or battle. An Act concerning desecration of venerated objects and amending N.J.S.2C:33-9. Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: 1. N.J.S.2C:33-9 is amended to reads as follows: 2C:33-9. Desecration of Venerated Objects. A person commits a disorderly persons offense if he purposely desecrates any public monument, insignia, symbol, or structure, or place of worship or burial. A person commits a crime of the third degree if he purposely desecrates a military monument. "Desecrate" means defacing, damaging or polluting. "Military monument" means any monument that was erected with the intent to honor a current or former member or members of the armed forces or to mark or commemorate a past military action or battle. (cf: N.J.S.2C:33-9) 2. This act shall take effect immediately. STATEMENT This bill makes purposely desecrating a military monument a crime of the third degree. As used in the bill, the term "military monument" means any monument that was erected with the intent to honor a current or former member or members of the armed forces or to mark or commemorate a past military action or battle.