CRIM CD-PLACE OF WORSHIP

Amends the Criminal Code of 2012. Provides that it is an aggravating factor in sentencing for first degree murder that the murdered individual was a member of a congregation engaged in prayer or other religious activities at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other building, structure, or place used for religious worship. Provides that assault and battery committed in a church, synagogue, mosque, or other building, structure, or place used for religious worship are enhanced to aggravated assault or aggravated battery. Provides that the penalty for aggravated assault under this provision is a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that aggravated battery under this provision is a Class 1 felony when the person causes great bodily harm or permanent disability to an individual whom the person knows to be a member of a congregation engaged in prayer or other religious activities at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other building, structure, or place used for religious worship. Provides that a person also commits the offense of unlawful use of weapons when the person knowingly carries or possesses with intent to use the same unlawfully against another, any firearm, knife, or other dangerous weapon, in any school church, synagogue, mosque, or other building, structure, or place used for religious worship. Provides that a violation is a Class 2 felony. Makes technical changes. Effective immediately. Senate Committee Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the engrossed bill, except: (1) provides that aggravated battery committed by knowingly causing great bodily harm or permanent disability or disfigurement is a Class 2 felony (rather than a Class 1 felony in the engrossed bill) when the person causes great bodily harm or permanent disability to an individual whom the person knows to be a member of a congregation engaged in prayer or other religious activities at a church, synagogue, mosque, or other building, structure, or place used for religious worship; and (2) provides that the offense of unlawful use of weapons also includes carrying or possessing with intent to use the same unlawfully against another, any firearm (rather than any firearm, knife, or other dangerous weapon in the engrossed bill) in a church, synagogue, mosque, or other building, structure, or place used for religious worship (deletes school).