Bill > HB1443

This bill amends several sections of the North Dakota Century Code to: 1. Require the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board to develop guidelines, a course of instruction, and ongoing training to assist peace officers in identifying and responding to bias crimes. The bill defines "bias crime" as a criminal act committed in whole or in part due to the actual or perceived race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or ancestry of the victim or the victim's property. 2. Add a new provision to the aggravated assault law making it a class C felony if the bodily injury is caused in whole or in part because of the victim's actual or perceived protected characteristics. 3. Add a new provision to the harassment law making it a class A misdemeanor if the offense is committed in whole or in part on the basis of the victim's actual or perceived protected characteristics. 4. Add a new provision to the criminal mischief law making it a class B felony if the property damage is committed in whole or in part because of the owner's actual or perceived protected characteristics or the property's believed association with such characteristics. 5. Require law enforcement agencies to collect and report data on bias crimes to the Attorney General's office, which must then submit an annual report to the Legislative Management and the Governor summarizing the data.

Justice

https://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/67-2021/bill-actions/ba1443.html