PRINTER'S NO. 1220
No. 1034 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY SCHWARTZ, KUKOVICH, HELFRICK, AFFLERBACH, COSTA,
TARTAGLIONE, WILLIAMS, MELLOW, RHOADES, MUSTO AND HUGHES,
JUNE 18, 1997
REFERRED TO APPROPRIATIONS, JUNE 18, 1997
AN ACT
1 Creating the Prevention of Hate Activity Fund; and making an
2 appropriation.
3 The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
4 (1) In fiscal year 1995-1996, 203 incidents of hate
5 activity and intergroup tension situations were reported to
6 the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, an increase of
7 12% from the previous year.
8 (2) Sixty incidents involving organized hate groups were
9 reported to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in
10 fiscal year 1995-1996, an increase of 54% from the previous
11 year.
12 (3) African-Americans and nonwhites were included as
13 targets in 132 (65%) of the tension incidents reported to the
14 Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission in fiscal year 1995-
15 1996. Jews were included as targets in 91 (45%) of the total
16 reported incidents. Other targets of reported hate activity
17 included immigrants and persons with disabilities. In
1 addition, a substantial amount of hate activity is targeted
2 against individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation.
3 (4) Forty-six percent of reported incidents involved
4 criminal activity that included serious threat to personal
5 safety, such as assault, terroristic threats, reckless
6 endangerment, arson, kidnapping and attempted homicide.
7 (5) An important role of the Pennsylvania Human
8 Relations Commission is monitoring and preventing hate crimes
9 and other actions by hate groups.
10 (6) Most Pennsylvanians reject bigotry and intolerance.
11 (7) Communities around this Commonwealth have organized
12 in unity coalitions in an effort to prevent and combat hate
13 activity.
14 (8) The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission is
15 working to respond to and prevent intergroup tension and hate
16 activities through direct assistance to communities and
17 community-based groups, programs to improve police-community
18 relations, technical assistance to school districts and
19 higher education institutions and various types of community
20 outreach and education initiatives.
21 (9) The Pennsylvania Human Relation Commission's current
22 funding level does not allow it to invest sufficiently in
23 combating hate crimes and tension incidents.
24 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
25 hereby enacts as follows:
26 Section 1. Short title.
27 This act shall be known and may be cited as the Prevention of
28 Hate Activity Act.
29 Section 2. Definitions.
30 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
19970S1034B1220 - 2 -
1 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
2 context clearly indicates otherwise:
3 "Commission." The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
4 "Fund." The Prevention of Hate Activity Fund created in
5 section 3.
6 Section 3. Prevention of Hate Activity Fund.
7 (a) Creation.--There is hereby created a special fund in the
8 State Treasury to be known as the Prevention of Hate Activity
9 Fund.
10 (b) Purpose.--The commission shall use the fund to enhance
11 its efforts to combat intergroup tension, ethnic intimidation
12 crimes and hate group activities.
13 (c) Use of moneys.--Sums appropriated under this act may be
14 used for the following:
15 (1) Direct assistance to communities and community-based
16 groups.
17 (2) Training initiatives for law enforcement personnel.
18 (3) Technical assistance to school districts and higher
19 education institutions.
20 (4) Outreach and informational activities directed to
21 local governments, civic organizations, trade associations
22 and other groups.
23 (5) Other activities related to the purpose of the fund.
24 Section 4. Appropriation.
25 The sum of $1,000,000 is hereby appropriated to the
26 Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission for the fiscal year July
27 1, 1997, to June 30, 1998, to carry out the provisions of this
28 act.
29 Section 5. Effective date.
30 This act shall take effect July 1, 1997.
E5L43WMB/19970S1034B1220 - 3 -