PRINTER'S NO. 1975
No. 1655 Session of 1989
INTRODUCED BY JOSEPHS, RITTER, BISHOP, ROEBUCK, KUKOVICH, ITKIN, LEVDANSKY, MICHLOVIC, HECKLER, FOX, COHEN, VEON, PISTELLA, PRESTON, RICHARDSON, CORNELL, HAYDEN, R. C. WRIGHT, DeWEESE, EVANS, MORRIS, LINTON, BORTNER, NAHILL, PRESSMANN, McHALE, FREEMAN, TRICH AND HARPER, JUNE 6, 1989
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, JUNE 6, 1989
AN ACT 1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania 2 Consolidated Statutes, further defining the offense of ethnic 3 intimidation to include sexual orientation. 4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 5 hereby enacts as follows: 6 Section 1. Section 2710 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania 7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read: 8 § 2710. Ethnic intimidation. 9 (a) Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of ethnic 10 intimidation if, with malicious intention toward the race, 11 color, religion [or], national origin or sexual orientation of 12 another individual or group of individuals, he commits an 13 offense under any other provision of this article or under 14 Chapter 33 (relating to arson, criminal mischief and other 15 property destruction) exclusive of section 3307 (relating to 16 institutional vandalism) or under section 3503 (relating to 17 criminal trespass) or under section 5504 (relating to harassment
1 by communication or address) with respect to such individual or 2 his or her property or with respect to one or more members of 3 such group or to their property. 4 (b) Grading.--An offense under this section shall be 5 classified as a misdemeanor of the third degree if the other 6 offense is classified as a summary offense. Otherwise, an 7 offense under this section shall be classified one degree higher 8 in the classification specified in section 106 (relating to 9 classes of offenses) than the classification of the other 10 offense. 11 (c) Definition.--As used in this section, "malicious 12 intention" means the intention to commit any act, the commission 13 of which is a necessary element of any offense referred to in 14 subsection (a) motivated by hatred toward the race, color, 15 religion [or], national origin or sexual orientation of another 16 individual or group of individuals. 17 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. B1L18CHF/19890H1655B1975 - 2 -