Staff Analysis of the Legislation
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HB 660 amends Article 1 of Chapter 10 of Title 17, Title 35, and Chapter 1 of Title 51 of the OCGA. The bill does three things: 1) it repeals all of Code Section 17-10-17 and replaces it with language that provides sentencing for those convicted of crimes where the defendant intentionally selected any victim or the victim's property as the object of offense because of the individual's belief or perception regarding race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, mental disability, or physical disability of such person or group of persons; 2) it adds new Code section 35-1-22 defining 'hate crimes' as conduct prohibitedby the new language of Code Section 17-10-17 and provides for officer training in identifying, responding to, reporting, and combating them, 3) it adds new Code section 51-1-14.1 which provides civil liability for hate crimes. |
