Florida Senate Bill Would Add Gender, Gender ID To Hate Crime Law

Miami FL

17 February, 2021

4:46 PM

Description

By CBSMiami.com Team, CBS Miami February 17, 2021 MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) – Under a bill approved by a Florida Senate committee Tuesday, Florida's hate crime law could be expanded to create enhanced penalties for people who commit offenses against someone based on their gender or gender identity. The Senate Criminal Justice Committee voted 5-2 for the legislation, which would increase the level of crime if it's motivated by those factors. For example, a first-degree misdemeanor would become a third-degree felony and a third-degree felony would become a second-degree felony. The bill also expands the definition of disability under current law that protects people from hate crimes. Current law includes disabilities "due to a developmental disability, organic brain damage, or mental illness." The bill would include any disability that creates limits on a person's major life activities. Read more at CBS Miami