Bill > A00298

This bill establishes the "Homeless Protection Act," which designates certain offenses against homeless persons as hate crimes. The bill includes a definition of "homelessness," which refers to individuals or families who are undomiciled, have no fixed address, lack a fixed regular nighttime residence, or reside in temporary or emergency accommodations. The bill amends the Penal Law to add "homelessness" as a factor that can be considered when determining if a crime was committed due to a belief or perception about the victim's characteristics.