WashingtonWatch.com - H.R. 1913, The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009

Revision by webmaster (May 5, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 05 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1913 would provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.

Detailed Summary

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. <br>

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.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/30/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Comment by LisaC (May 4, 2009, 01:00:00)

Mon, 04 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Isn't every crime against a person a hate crime? Isn't that what the police are trained to do? Fight crime? Why do we need this bill?...

Comment by alitl8 (May 1, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

i hate stupid legislation... will that be a crime too? "Mistrust those in whom the impulse to punish is strong." - Friedrich Nietzsche...

Revision by webmaster (May 1, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1913 would provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.

Detailed Summary

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Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/30/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Points in Favor

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to show why the bill should pass!)

Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (May 1, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 01 May 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1913 would provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.

Detailed Summary

(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 to give priority for assistance to crimes committed by offenders who have committed crimes in more than one state and to rural jurisdictions that have difficulty covering the extraordinary investigation or prosecution expenses. <br>

Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state, local, and Indian 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 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 intentionally inflicting bodily harm on any person through the use of fire, a firearm, 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. Requires the Attorney General or other designated DOJ official to certify certain findings before initiating a prosecution for a hate crime. 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. 8) Declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit the exercise of constitutionally-protected free speech.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/30/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Revision by webmaster (April 30, 2009, 01:00:00)

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1913 would provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.

Detailed Summary

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Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/29/2009: Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 249 - 175 (Roll no. 223).

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Status as of April 30, 2009

Thu, 30 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

4/30/2009: Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Comment by CRT (April 29, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Just who gets to decide what is a "hate crime" under this? It seems too easy for someone to get unfairly punished with these types of laws....

Comment by d.little (April 29, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Another subtle atempt to silence the Gosple of Jesus Christ . Superficially, it all sounds great. I bet there are alot of people that thought O'Bama would be great and are regretting voting for him....

Comment by Gerald Wolfe (April 29, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Crime is crime!!! If prosecuted swiftly and severly those crimes we know about, we wouldn't need the designation of "Hate Crimes"!!! Just make crime punishable by appropriate consequences and provide faster prosecution and punishment and hate crimes would be reduced proportionately. NO CRIME IS DEVOID OF DISREGARD FOR ANOTHER PERSON OR THEIR POSSESSIONS !!!!!...

Comment by C Sharp (April 29, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

Far too many laws already. Just enforce what we have....

Revision by webmaster (April 29, 2009, 01:00:00)

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1913 would provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/28/2009: Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Judiciary, H. Rept. 111-86, Part II.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Status as of April 29, 2009

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

4/29/2009: Passed/agreed to in House. Status: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 249 - 175 (Roll no. 223).

Revision by webmaster (April 28, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1913 would provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.

Detailed Summary

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Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/27/2009: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 40.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Status as of April 28, 2009

Tue, 28 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

4/28/2009: Supplemental report filed by the Committee on Judiciary, H. Rept. 111-86, Part II.

Comment by K R Meyers (April 27, 2009, 01:00:00)

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

I think the federal government already have their hands in too many aspects of our lives now. They are just looking for an excuse to get into another aspect of it....

Comment by Lena G (April 27, 2009, 01:00:00)

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

This bill is nothing else but vicious attack on the First Amendment - yet another step toward dictatorship...

Comment by Marcus49 (April 27, 2009, 01:00:00)

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

I am against this bill. We should all have equal protection under the law. Not special treatment for select groups....

Comment by eamonak (April 27, 2009, 01:00:00)

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

the fairness doctrine is anything but fair; it's punishment......

Status as of April 27, 2009

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

4/27/2009: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 40.

Comment by CC (April 24, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

I made a mistake. I meant to vote against passsage of thebill...

Revision by webmaster (April 24, 2009, 01:00:00)

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1913 would provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.

Detailed Summary

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Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/23/2009: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 12.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Status as of April 23, 2009

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

4/23/2009: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 15 - 12.

Revision by webmaster (April 21, 2009, 01:00:00)

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

H.R. 1913 would provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes.

Detailed Summary

(Log in to edit the wiki and be the first to provide a detailed summary of the bill!)

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 4/20/2009: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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Status as of April 20, 2009

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EDT

4/20/2009: House committee/subcommittee actions. Status: Committee Hearings Held.