Senate Bill 336 - Bias Crimes

• Defines a bias motivated crime as one where the perpetrator knowingly or intentionally selects a victim or property based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or disability of the individual or group, regardless of whether the perpetrator's belief was correct.

• Requires law enforcement officers to receive training in identifying, responding to, and reporting bias motivated crimes, with standards to be adopted by December 31, 2017.

• Amends law enforcement data collection requirements to include mandatory submission of bias motivated crime information to the Indiana central repository at least twice yearly and to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in accordance with federal guidelines.

• Makes bias motivated crime designation an aggravating circumstance that judges may consider when imposing sentences for any crime.

• Effective date: July 1, 2017.