AUGUSTA – Supporters of a bill signed into law Wednesday by Gov. John Baldacci that expands the crime of disorderly conduct to include disruptions at funerals say it strikes an appropriate balance between protecting free speech while also allowing a family to grieve in peace.

Baldacci held a bill-signing ceremony to recognize the bill’s passage, and he was joined by state Sen. David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, lead sponsor of the bill, and the family of Sgt. Corey Dan, a Norway soldier who died in Iraq last year.

The bill is an emergency measure, meaning it will go into effect immediately, and involves all memorial services, not just those for members of the military.

“The services are the final opportunity to say goodbye to the person loved so dearly by family and friends,” Baldacci said. “These services are not the proper time to voice opinions about politics, protests or any topic of controversial nature.”

It was threats to disrupt Dan’s funeral that initiated the legislation. Activists from the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas threatened to protest the funeral to send a message that dead soldiers were God’s punishment for society’s acceptance of homosexuality.

The language of the bill changed dramatically during the legislative committee process. It started by setting time and distance restrictions from funerals, but then after concerns about hindering the First Amendment, it evolved to ensure that it didn’t infringe on free-speech rights.

Both Dan’s mother, Wanda Kilgore of Norway, and grandmother, Sharon Bouchard of Paris, said they’re happy with the final product.

“Free speech is very important to me,” Bouchard said. “My grandson fought for free speech.”

Members of the Patriot Guard, a group of motorcyclists who aid the families of deceased soldiers, attended Wednesday’s ceremony. They also attended Dan’s funeral in March.

“It was breathtakingly unbelievable the amount of support,” said Christine Suydam, a member of the Patriot Guard, of Dan’s funeral. “People came out on a cold March day to show camaraderie. We all felt the same loss with them.”