Posted: | March 19, 2019 03:48 PM |
---|---|
From: | Representative Kristine C. Howard |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Co-Sponsorship: Hate Crimes Against the Disabled |
Last year, abhorrent attacks on individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities highlighted a critical gap in Pennsylvania’s Criminal Code. At this writing, Pennsylvania’s Criminal Code provides for hate crime charges stemming from incidents involving acts committed against an individual based on race, color, religion or national origin. With that said, attacks committed against disabled individuals represent some of the most repugnant acts and should be punished accordingly. As such, as a companion bill to Senator Killion’s Senate Bill 444, I will be introducing legislation in the House that adds “intellectual or physical disability” to the list of elements that prosecutors can consider when contemplating hate crime charges. To that end, please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Takesha Latham my Harrisburg Office at (717) 783-4088. |
Introduced as HB1344