FL H0309

Expands Florida's hate crime penalty enhancement law (s. 775.085) to include crimes committed based on prejudice against the victim's employment as a state court justice or judge, correctional officer, correctional probation officer, or first responder

Penalty enhancements reclassify offenses upward by one degree: second-degree misdemeanors become first-degree misdemeanors, first-degree misdemeanors become third-degree felonies, and so on up to first-degree felonies becoming life felonies

Defines "employment" broadly to include full-time, part-time, auxiliary, or volunteer positions in these covered occupations

Requires the record to reflect that the defendant perceived, knew, or had reasonable grounds to know or perceive that the victim was within a protected class

Effective date: October 1, 2016