This bill amends New Jersey's laws regarding false public alarms, specifically addressing incidents involving places of worship. It establishes that a person is guilty of a second-degree crime if they initiate or circulate a false alarm related to any church, synagogue, temple, mosque, gurdwara, or other place of worship. The bill defines a "place of worship" as a building that can seat more than 50 people and is used primarily for public or private worship by a recognized religious organization.

Additionally, the bill introduces increased civil penalties for false alarms involving places of worship, setting a minimum penalty of $5,000 or the actual costs incurred by law enforcement and emergency services in response to the false alarm, whichever is higher. This is in contrast to the general civil penalty for false alarms, which is set at a minimum of $2,000. The bill aims to deter false alarms that could disrupt the safety and security of religious communities, with second-degree crimes carrying significant penalties, including imprisonment and fines.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:33-3.2