COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

Bill: 117-s-937
Sponsor: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2021-03-23 in the Senate
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Community life and organization
Crime prevention
Crime victims
Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
Criminal justice information and records
Criminal procedure and sentencing
Department of Justice
Disability and health-based discrimination
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal officials
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Hate crimes
Infectious and parasitic diseases
Law enforcement administration and funding
Law enforcement officers
Racial and ethnic relations
Religion
Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: 

COVID
-
19 Hate Crimes Act

 
This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) hate crimes and reports of COVID-19 hate crimes.
 
It defines 
COVID-19 hate crime
 as a violent crime that is motivated by two things: (1) the actual or perceived characteristic (e.g., race or ethnicity) of any person, and (2) the actual or perceived relationship to the spread of COVID-19 of any person because of that characteristic.
 
 The bill requires DOJ to issue guidance for state and local law enforcement agencies on how to establish online hate crime reporting processes in multiple languages and how to expand culturally competent education campaigns. Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance on best practices for mitigating racially discriminatory language in describing the COVID-19 pandemic.

action_date: 2021-04-22
text: 

COVID
-
19 Hate Crimes Act

 
This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes and reports of hate crimes.
 
DOJ must issue guidance for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on establishing online hate crime reporting processes, collecting data disaggregated by protected characteristic (e.g., race or national origin), and expanding education campaigns.
 
Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
 
The bill establishes grants for states to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines. It also authorizes grants for states and local governments to implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System and to conduct law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs to prevent, address, or respond to hate crimes.
 
Finally, in the case of an individual convicted of a hate crime offense and placed on supervised release, the bill allows a court to order that the individual participate in educational classes or community service as a condition of supervised release.

action_date: 2021-05-18
text: 

COVID
-
19 Hate Crimes Act

 
This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes and reports of hate crimes.
 
DOJ must issue guidance for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on establishing online hate crime reporting processes, collecting data disaggregated by protected characteristic (e.g., race or national origin), and expanding education campaigns.
 
Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
 
The bill establishes grants for states to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines. It also authorizes grants for states and local governments to implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System and to conduct law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs to prevent, address, or respond to hate crimes.
 
Finally, in the case of an individual convicted of a hate crime offense and placed on supervised release, the bill allows a court to order that the individual participate in educational classes or community service as a condition of supervised release.

action_date: 2021-05-20
text: 

COVID
-
19 Hate Crimes Act

 
This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes and reports of hate crimes.
 
DOJ must issue guidance for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on establishing online hate crime reporting processes, collecting data disaggregated by protected characteristic (e.g., race or national origin), and expanding education campaigns.
 
Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.
 
The bill establishes grants for states to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines. It also authorizes grants for states and local governments to implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System and to conduct law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs to prevent, address, or respond to hate crimes.
 
Finally, in the case of an individual convicted of a hate crime offense and placed on supervised release, the bill allows a court to order that the individual participate in educational classes or community service as a condition of supervised release.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Became Public Law No: 117-13.
action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Became Public Law No: 117-13.
action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2021-05-20
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2021-05-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2021-05-19
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 - 62 (Roll no. 145). (text: CR H2464-2466)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 - 62 (Roll no. 145).(text: CR H2464-2466)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2479-2480)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 937.
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2464-2472)
action_date: 2021-05-18
text: Mr. Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2021-04-26
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2021-04-26
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Passed Senate, under the order of 4/21/21, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 1. Record Vote Number: 165. (text: CR S2148-2150)
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate, under the order of 4/21/21, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 1. Record Vote Number: 165.(text: CR S2148-2150)
action_date: 2021-04-22
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2140-2148)
action_date: 2021-04-21
text: Cloture motion on the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate. (CR S2117)
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S2061)
action_date: 2021-04-20
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2043, S2046, S2058)
action_date: 2021-04-19
text: Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S2002-2003)
action_date: 2021-04-15
text: Measure laid before Senate by motion. (consideration: CR S1998)
action_date: 2021-04-15
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2021-04-15
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1953)
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1923)
action_date: 2021-04-14
text: Cloture on the motion to proceed invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 - 6. Record Vote Number: 151. (CR S1923)
action_date: 2021-03-25
text: Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S1805)
action_date: 2021-03-25
text: Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S1804-1805)
action_date: 2021-03-24
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 13.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
action_date: 2021-03-23
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 117-13