U.S. Congress - H.R.1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009
H.R.1913 - Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009
To provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes. view all titles (4)
All Bill Titles
- Official: To provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, and for other purposes. as introduced.
- Short: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 as introduced.
- Short: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 as reported to house.
- Short: Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 as passed house.
Bill's Views
- Today: 34
- Past Seven Days: 135
- All-Time: 140,789
Committees
Latest Vote
Result: Passed - April 29, 2009
Roll call number 223 in the House
Question: On Passage: H R 1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act
Required percentage of 'Aye' votes: 1/2 (50%)
Percentage of 'aye' votes:
57%
OpenCongress Summary
This bill, previously introduced in Congress in 2007, seeks to expand upon the 1969 US federal hate-crime law by extending hate crime protections to bodily crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, in addition to the current protections for bodily crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, and national origin. It would also codify and expand the funding and investigative capabilities of federal officials for aiding their local counterparts.This bill was adopted and signed into law as part of the 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill (H.R. 3326).
OpenCongress bill summaries are written by OpenCongress editors and are entirely independent of Congress and the federal government. For the summary provided by Congress itself, via the Congressional Research Service, see the "Official Summary" below.
Official Summary
4/29/2009--Passed House amended. Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 - (Sec. 2) Adopts the definition of "hate crime" as set forth in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (i.e., a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victiOfficial Summary
4/29/2009--Passed House amended. Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 -(Sec. 2)
Adopts the definition of "hate crime" as set forth in the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (i.e., a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim, or in the case of a property crime, the property that is the object of the crime, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person).(Sec. 3)
Authorizes the Attorney General, at the request of a state, local, or tribal law enforcement agency, to provide technical, forensic, prosecutorial, or other assistance in the criminal investigation or prosecution of a violent crime, a hate crime, or a crime that constitutes a felony under state, local, or tribal law. Directs the Attorney General, in providing such assistance, to give priority to cases involving crimes committed in more than one state and to rural jurisdictions that have difficulty covering extraordinary investigation or prosecution expenses. Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies for extraordinary expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes. Requires the Office of Justice Programs of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to work with grantees to address the needs and concerns of all affected parties in implementing grants. Sets forth requirements governing the submission and approval of grant applications. Limits the amount of any grant to $100,000 for any single jurisdiction in any one-year period. Requires the Attorney General to:(1) approve or deny a grant application within 180 days after receipt of such application; and
(2) report to Congress by December 31, 2011, on the grant program. Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2011.
(Sec. 4)
Authorizes the Office of Justice Programs to award grants to combat hate crimes committed by juveniles. Authorizes appropriations.(Sec. 5)
Authorizes appropriations for FY2010-FY2012 to increase DOJ personnel to assist state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies in combating hate crimes.(Sec. 6)
Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit willfully causing bodily injury to any person through the use of fire, a firearm, a dangerous weapon, or an explosive or incendiary device because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person. Imposes a fine and/or prison term of up to 10 years for violations and a life term if a death results from a violation or certain other violent crimes are involved. Requires the Attorney General or other designated DOJ official to certify certain findings before initiating a prosecution for a hate crime. Sets a seven-year statute of limitations on prosecuting such an offense not resulting in death. Prohibits the admission of evidence as substantive evidence in a hate crime prosecution of the expression or associations of a defendant unless the evidence specifically relates to the hate crime offense.(Sec. 7)
Provides that any provision of this Act that is held to be unconstitutional shall be severable from the remaining provisions of this Act.(Sec. 8)
Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the exercise of constitutionally-protected free speech....Read the Rest
Organizations Supporting H.R.1913
- National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
- National Center for Transgender Equality
- Equality Florida
- Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism
- Jewish Council for Public Affairs
- Human Rights Campaign
- ...and 2 more. See all.
Organizations Opposing H.R.1913
- American Family Association
- Family Research Council
See the money trail behind this bill for more info on how campaign contributions may be influencing senators' and representatives' votes.
Latest Letters to Congress
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H.R.1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009
shetakaey
June 25, 2012
Dear Congresspersons and Senators:
While growing up in the 1960s and 1970s, I observed the general attitude towards "different" people: other races, sexual orientations, et al, and due to my saturation with these attitudes, it took decades for me to realize that human is human, regardless of any other differences we may have. Bills like this were designed to protect human rights, and if we are to send a message to society that we are all created equal, we must give serious pause to potential... -
H.R.1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009
ldranton
October 24, 2011
I support H.R.1913 - Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, and am tracking it using OpenCongress.org, the free public resource website for government transparency and accountability.
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