AN ACT to create the criminal offense of breaking or entering a building that is a place of RELIGIOUS worship.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Article 14 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 14‑54.1.  Breaking or entering a building that is a place of religious worship.
(a)	Any person who wrongfully breaks or enters any building that is a place of religious worship with intent to commit any felony or larceny therein is guilty of a Class G felony.
(b)	As used in this section, a 'building that is a place of religious worship' shall be construed to include any church, chapel, meetinghouse, synagogue, temple, longhouse, or mosque, or other building that is regularly used, and clearly identifiable, as a place for religious worship."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2005, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 21st day of July, 2005.

	_____________________________________
		 Marc Basnight
	 President Pro Tempore of the Senate

	_____________________________________
		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives

	_____________________________________
		 Michael F. Easley
	 Governor

Approved __________.m. this ______________ day of ___________________, 2005