SB188 Summary

• Amends Alabama hate crimes law (Section 13A-5-13) to impose additional penalties for arson, burglary, and criminal mischief committed against religious property because of its religious character.

• Defines religious property as churches, religious cemeteries, other places of religious worship, and fixtures or religious objects contained within such places.

• Subjects offenders to enhanced penalties under existing hate crime provisions, including minimum sentences of 15 years for Class A felonies, 10 years for Class B felonies, and 2 years for Class C felonies.

• Applies additional penalties to all three degrees of arson, burglary, and criminal mischief when motivated by the religious character of the property.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.