SB44 Summary

• Amends Section 13A-5-13 of the Alabama Code to add "employment as a law enforcement officer" to the list of protected characteristics for hate crime sentencing enhancements, alongside race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, and physical or mental disability.

• Establishes mandatory minimum sentences for crimes motivated by the victim's status as a law enforcement officer: 15 years for Class A felonies, 10 years for Class B felonies, 2 years for Class C felonies, and 18 months for Class D felonies.

• Requires misdemeanors motivated by a victim's employment as a law enforcement officer to be charged and sentenced as Class A misdemeanors with a minimum of three months imprisonment.

• Allows defendants previously convicted of felonies who receive enhanced sentences under this section to also be subject to enhanced punishment under the Alabama Habitual Felony Offender Act.

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