THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, July 4, 1996 TAG: 9607040584
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: 34 lines
President Clinton swiftly signed into law Wednesday a bill expanding federal jurisdiction over church burnings and strengthening federal penalties for such attacks.
The new law - passed by Congress last week and sent to the White House on Tuesday - represents a bipartisan response to the wave of church fires that have hit many southern states over the last 18 months.
Clinton said he would formally thank Congress for its action next week.
The new law, the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, has these major provisions:
Broadens the authority of the federal government to prosecute as a federal crime the intentional defacing, damaging or destroying of religious property ``on the basis of race, color or ethnicity.'' Previously, federal law had limited prosecutions to attacks based solely on religious animosity.
Doubles to 20 years the maximum prison sentence for damage to religious property that causes injury to people.
Increases the statute of limitations for prosecution from five to seven years.
Authorizes up to $10 million in Housing and Urban Development private loan guarantees to help rebuild churches damaged or destroyed by arson or terrorism.
Makes personal injuries or deaths resulting from church arson eligible for compensation under the terms of the Victim Compensation and Assistance Act.
Authorizes money to increase the number of federal agents investigating, preventing and responding to attacks on religious property. by CNB