THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY FERLO, FONTANA, STACK, COSTA, KITCHEN, TARTAGLIONE, BROWNE, WILLIAMS, LEACH, BREWSTER, FARNESE AND WASHINGTON, FEBRUARY 18, 2011

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, FEBRUARY 18, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, further providing for the offense of

ethnic intimidation.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 2710(a) and (c) of Title 18 of the

Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

§ 2710.  Ethnic intimidation.

(a)  Offense defined.--A person commits the offense of ethnic

intimidation if, with malicious intention toward the actual or

perceived race, color, religion [or], national origin, ancestry,

mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or

gender identity of another individual or group of individuals,

he commits an offense under any other provision of this article

or under Chapter 33 (relating to arson, criminal mischief and

other property destruction) exclusive of section 3307 (relating

to institutional vandalism) or under section 3503 (relating to

criminal trespass) with respect to such individual or his or her

property or with respect to one or more members of such group or

to their property.

* * *

(c)  Definition.--As used in this section "malicious

intention" means the intention to commit any act, the commission

of which is a necessary element of any offense referred to in

subsection (a) motivated by hatred toward the actual or

perceived race, color, religion [or], national origin, ancestry,

mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, gender or

gender identity of another individual or group of individuals.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.