Places of religious worship: unlawful activities.

The prohibited conduct now only applies when the person being approached is 'seeking to enter or exit a place of religious worship.' Previously, the law applied to any person or vehicle occupant within the 100-foot radius regardless of whether they were entering or exiting.

The definition of 'place of religious worship' now includes driveways only 'if the primary entrance to the building is through the parking lot.' Previously, all driveways and driveway entrances were automatically included in the protected area.

First violation penalties were reduced from a fine up to $10,000 and up to one year in jail to a fine up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail. Second and subsequent violation fines were reduced from up to $25,000 to up to $5,000.

The reference to imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 (which allows for state prison sentences for certain repeat offenses) was removed from the second-or-subsequent violation penalty.

The measurement provision for the 8-foot distance was clarified to specify it is measured from 'a motor vehicle that the person occupies while seeking to enter or exit a parking lot' rather than simply 'the occupied motor vehicle seeking to enter or exit a parking lot.'

Consent was made an explicit element of the offense with the language 'shall not, without consent, intentionally approach,' making it clearer that a person cannot be charged if the target consents to the interaction.

Added an entirely new Section 594.38 to the Penal Code creating a criminal offense for conduct within 100 feet of a place of religious worship entrance or exit. The bill went from being purely technical (arrest warrant language fixes) to a substantive new criminal statute.

Defined 'place of religious worship' as any building, structure, or space used primarily for religious worship activities or religious education/instruction, explicitly including parking lots, parking lot entrances, driveways, and driveway entrances.

Prohibits intentionally approaching within 8 feet of a person or vehicle occupant (without consent) to pass leaflets/handbills, display signs, engage in oral protest or education, or to harass, obstruct, threaten, or intimidate. The 8-foot distance is measured from the body of the person or exterior of the occupied vehicle to the body or any sign/object held by the approaching person.

First violation is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $10,000, county jail up to 1 year, or both. Second or subsequent violations are punishable by a fine up to $25,000, county jail up to 1 year, state prison under Section 1170(h), or both.

Fiscal committee review changed from 'no' to 'yes' and state-mandated local program changed from 'no' to 'yes.' Added a new Section 2 stating no reimbursement is required because the act creates a new crime under Government Code Section 17556.

The original technical amendments to Section 815 (arrest warrant provisions) were retained but renumbered as Section 2 of the bill. Changes include replacing 'the' with 'all of the,' updating 'his' to 'their,' and minor wording cleanups.

First offense penalty reduced: fine lowered from $10,000 to $1,000 and maximum county jail time reduced from one year to six months.

Second or subsequent offense penalty reduced: fine lowered from $25,000 to $5,000. Maximum jail time of one year (or state prison under Section 1170(h)) remains unchanged.

The bill no longer amends Penal Code Section 815, which governed the information required in a warrant of arrest (defendant name, time issued, city or county, and signature). This technical amendment was dropped entirely.

Fiscal committee review changed from 'no' to 'yes' and state-mandated local program changed from 'no' to 'yes', indicating the bill now triggers fiscal analysis and creates a state-mandated local program requiring reimbursement procedures.

Additional coauthors were added: Assembly Members Addis, Berman, Gabriel, Haney, Lowenthal, Pellerin, and Zbur; Senators Allen, Becker, and Rubio.