Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt an amendment that expands hate crime definitions and enhances the federal government's ability to investigate and prosecute hate crimes.

Highlights:

• Expands hate crime definitions to include gender, sexual orientation and disability.

• Appropriates $5 million during each of the 2 years following enactment to assist state and local law enforcement officials in investigating and prosecuting hate crimes.

• Allows the federal government to pursue hate crime cases if offenders have committed crimes in more than one state, if local law enforcement officials have difficulty paying for the investigation or prosecuting the crime, or if local officials do not press charges.

• Requires the Justice Department to certify before prosecution that hate was a motivating factor in the crime.

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text