HB224 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

John W. Rogers

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Hate crimes, enhanced penalties expanded to include crimes motivated by victim's actual or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer or firefighter, Sec. 13A-5-13 am'd.

Summary

This bill adds enhanced penalties to hate-crime laws when the offense is motivated by the victim's actual or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer or firefighter.

What This Bill Does

It expands hate-crime penalties to cover crimes motivated by the victim's job as a law enforcement officer or firefighter (including volunteers). It sets minimum sentences for felonies (A: at least 15 years, B: at least 10 years, C: at least 2 years, D: at least 18 months) and a minimum of 3 months for misdemeanors when such motivation is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. It defines who counts as a law enforcement officer and a firefighter for purposes of this provision. It also notes the local-funding implications under Amendment 621 but states the bill is exempt from those requirements because it changes the crime definition.

Who It Affects

• Offenders convicted of crimes where the perpetrator was motivated by the victim's actual or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer or firefighter, who would face higher, minimum penalties based on felony class or a minimum 3-month term for misdemeanors.
• Law enforcement officers and firefighters (including volunteer firefighters) who are victims of crimes, because penalties would be enhanced when the crime is shown to be motivated by their employment.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 13A-5-13 to add enhanced penalties for offenses motivated by the victim's actual or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer or firefighter.
• Defines 'law enforcement officer' and 'firefighter' for purposes of this section, including volunteers.
• Felony penalties: minimums of 15 years (Class A), 10 years (Class B), 2 years (Class C), and 18 months (Class D) when the underlying offense was motivated by the victim's employment as a law enforcement officer or firefighter.
• Misdemeanor penalties: minimum of a Class A misdemeanor with at least 3 months when the offense was motivated by the victim's employment as a law enforcement officer or firefighter.
• Requires the motivation to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt and links these penalties to the existing hate-crime penalty framework.
• Notes potential local-funding implications under Amendment 621, but states the bill is exempt from those requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses