D.C. Act 23-234. Community Harassment Prevention Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020.

AN ACT

To amend, on an emergency basis, due to congressional review, the Anti-Intimidation and Defacing of Public or Private Property Criminal Penalty Act of 1982 to make it unlawful to deface or burn a religious or secular symbol on any property of another without permission or to place or display on such property a physical impression that a reasonable person would perceive as a threat to physically damage the property of another.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this act may be cited as the "Community Harassment Prevention Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2020".

Sec. 2. Section 3(a) of the Anti-Intimidation and Defacing of Public or Private Property Criminal Penalty Act of 1982, effective March 10, 1983 (D.C. Law 4-203; D.C. Official Code § 22-3312.02(a)), is amended as follows:

(a) The lead-in language is amended by striking the phrase "private premises or property in the District of Columbia primarily used for religious, educational, residential, memorial, charitable, or cemetery purposes, or for assembly by persons of a particular race, color, creed, religion, or any other category listed in section 101 of the Human Rights Act of 1977, effective December 13, 1977 (D.C. Law 2-38; D.C. Official Code § 2-1401.01)," and inserting the phrase "private property of another without the permission of the owner or the owner's designee" in its place.

(b) Paragraph (3) is amended by striking the word "person" and inserting the phrase "person or property" in its place.

Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.

The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement of the Budget Director as the fiscal impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975, approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code § 1-301.47a).

Sec. 4. Effective date.

This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the Mayor, action by the Council to override the veto), and shall remain in effect for no longer than 90 days, as provided for emergency acts of the Council of the District of Columbia in section 412(a) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 788; D.C. Official Code § 1-204.12(a)).