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Intentionally disturbing worship service now a crime in Mo., other laws signed

Cathedral Basilica
(via Flickr/kat93117)
Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Under a new Missouri law, it is a misdemeanor to intentionally disrupt a house of worship.

Gov. Jay Nixon has signed into law more than two dozen bills covering a variety of topics, including disturbances of worship services, workers' compensation and child care providers.

The governor's office announced the bill signings Tuesday. One measure makes it a misdemeanor to intentionally disrupt or interrupt a worship service with profanity, noise or indecent behavior. Violators could face fines of up to $500 and six months in jail.

The workers' compensation measure bars employees from suing each other for accidental on-the-job injuries. Lawsuits still could go for forward when someone purposefully and dangerously injures a co-worker.

Under the daycare bill, judges could prohibit defendants in cases of abuse, neglect or the death of a child from providing child care services for pay until the case is resolved.

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