Existing law defines "hate crime" as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of actual or perceived characteristics of the victim, including, among other things, race, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. Existing law provides that the punishment for misdemeanor hate crimes is imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year or a fine of up to $5,000, or both imprisonment and that fine. Under existing law, hate crimes with specified underlying acts or other circumstances are punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not more then one year or for 18 months, or 2 or 3 years, or by a fine of up to $10,000, or by both imprisonment and that fine.
This bill would increase the fines for a person who is convicted of a hate crime by $2,500 and would require those funds to be used, upon appropriation, to fund classes or programs on racial or ethnic sensitivity, or other similar training in the area of civil rights, as specified.

Statutes affected:
AB28: 13650 BPC, 25144 HSC
12/07/20 - Introduced: 13650 BPC, 25144 HSC
03/30/21 - Amended Assembly: 422.55 PEN, 422.56 PEN, 422.6 PEN, 422.87 PEN, 13650 BPC, 25144 HSC
04/21/21 - Amended Assembly: 422.55 PEN, 422.56 PEN, 422.6 PEN, 422.7 PEN, 422.87 PEN
04/29/21 - Amended Assembly: 422.56 PEN, 422.6 PEN, 422.7 PEN, 422.87 PEN
AB 28: 13650 BPC, 25144 HSC