Prohibits the wearing of a mask or headgear in public places designed to threaten or intimidate a group or groups of people; provides that a violation shall be a class A misdemeanor.
STATE OF NEW YORK
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211
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE(Prefiled)
January 7, 2009
___________
Introduced by Sen. KRUGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Codes
AN ACT to amend the penal law, in relation to prohibiting the wearing of
a mask or headgear in a public setting designed to intimidate a
particular group or groups of people
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The penal law is amended by adding a new section 240.23 to
2 read as follows:
3 § 240.23 Appearing in public places designed to threaten or intimidate.
4 A person is guilty of appearing in public places designed to threaten
5 or intimidate when, knowing the consequences of his or her actions, such
6 person appears at or participates in a march, parade or demonstration or
7 in any public place while wearing a mask or headgear which is recognized
8 as a threat or is intimidating to a particular group or groups of people
9 based on religious, ethnic or other principles. The provisions of this
10 section shall not apply where such mask or headgear is worn in a theatre
11 or sporting event, or in acknowledgement of a public holiday, or where
12 such mask or headgear is needed for medical or emergency purposes.
13 Appearing in public places designed to threaten or intimidate is a
14 class A misdemeanor.
15 § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of November next succeed-
16 ing the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03125-01-9
