HB228 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, Sec. 13A-5-13 am'd.

Summary

HB228 adds employment as a law enforcement officer to the list of protected targets for hate-crime penalties, increasing punishment when crimes are motivated by the victim's job.

What This Bill Does

This bill amends the hate-crimes provision to impose enhanced penalties if the underlying crime was motivated by the victim's actual or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer. It defines 'law enforcement officer' as any arrest-power employee of state, or a city/county agency. It sets minimum penalties for felonies (A: at least 15 years; B: at least 10; C: at least 2; D: at least 18 months) and requires a minimum of 3 months for qualifying misdemeanors; repeat offenders can be punished under the Habitual Felony Offender Act. It notes that, although such penalties could involve local funds, the bill is exempt from local-funding approval requirements because it creates or amends a crime.

Who It Affects

• Criminal defendants whose underlying crime was shown beyond a reasonable doubt to be motivated by the victim's actual or perceived employment as a law enforcement officer would face higher minimum sentences.
• Victims who are law enforcement officers (actual or perceived employment) would be protected targets, with enhanced penalties applying when the crime is motivated by that employment.

Key Provisions

• Adds 'employment as a law enforcement officer' as a factor that can trigger enhanced penalties under Section 13A-5-13.
• Defines 'law enforcement officer' as an officer with arrest power employed by any state agency, department, board, commission, or by any municipality or county in Alabama.
• For felonies, sets minimum sentences when the offense is shown to be motivated by the victim's job: Class A at least 15 years; Class B at least 10 years; Class C at least 2 years; Class D at least 18 months.
• For misdemeanors, requires a Class A misdemeanor sentence with a minimum of 3 months when the offense is so motivated.
• If the offender has prior felonies, the Habitual Felony Offender Act may apply for enhanced punishment.
• Notes that the bill is exempt from local-funding approval requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates or amends a crime.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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