Senate Bill 400 - Bias Motivated Offenses

• Defines "bias motivated crime" as an offense where the offender intentionally selected the victim or damaged property because of the victim's actual or perceived color, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity.

• Enhances criminal penalties by one level for 16 specified offenses (including battery, aggravated battery, robbery, arson, burglary, theft, intimidation, harassment, and stalking) when committed as bias motivated crimes.

• Requires law enforcement officers to receive mandatory training in identifying, responding to, and reporting bias motivated crimes, with standards to be adopted by December 31, 2014.

• Amends bias motivated crime reporting requirements for law enforcement agencies to the Indiana central repository and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

• Establishes a civil cause of action allowing individuals injured by bias motivated acts to recover actual damages, punitive damages, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees; parents/guardians of child offenders are also liable under specified conditions.

• Effective date: July 1, 2014.