AB48: Bill Text

CORRECTED COPY

LRB-1023/1

CMH:amn

2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE

2017 Assembly BILL 48

February 2, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Steffen, Kitchens, Brandtjen, E. Brooks, R. Brooks, Edming, Felzkowski, Horlacher, Jacque, Kleefisch, Kulp, Macco, Mursau, Novak, Ott, Petersen, Petryk, Quinn, Ripp, Schraa, Spiros, Summerfield, Tauchen, Tittl, Tusler, Weatherston and Zimmerman, cosponsored by Senators Vukmir, Darling, Nass, Olsen and Wanggaard. Referred to Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety.

AB48,1,3 An Act to amend 939.645 (1) (b) and 939.645 (4) of the statutes; relating to: expanding the definition of hate crime victims to include law enforcement officers.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill expands the persons who can be a victim of what is commonly known as a “hate crime" to include law enforcement officers. A hate crime is a crime in which the perpetrator selects the victim due to a perception or belief regarding the victim, such as the victim's race, religion, color, or disability, or, under this bill, status as a law enforcement officer.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB48,1 Section 1. 939.645 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB48,2,4 939.645 (1) (b) Intentionally selects the person against whom the crime under par. (a) is committed or selects the property that is damaged or otherwise affected by the crime under par. (a) in whole or in part because of the actor's belief or perception regarding the race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin, or ancestry of that person or the owner or occupant of that property, or because of the actor's belief or perception that the person or the owner or occupant of that property is employed as a law enforcement officer, whether or not the actor's belief or perception was correct.

AB48,2 Section 2. 939.645 (4) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB48,2,10 939.645 (4) This section does not apply to any crime if proof of race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or , ancestry, or employment status or proof of any person's perception or belief regarding another's race, religion, color, disability, sexual orientation, national origin or , ancestry, or employment status is required for a conviction for that crime.

AB48,3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

AB48,2,13 (1) This act first applies to actions committed on the effective date of this subsection.

AB48,2,14 (End)