Bill > S1126

This bill proposes several key provisions aimed at combating hate crimes and protecting civil rights in Massachusetts. It expands the powers of the division of civil rights and liberties by allowing them to issue civil investigative demands to gather information about potential civil rights violations, including the ability to request documents, written answers, and oral testimony. The bill also enhances legal protections for victims of hate-motivated incidents by allowing them to seek up to $5,000 in statutory damages and additional punitive damages if they can prove a violation was motivated by prejudice based on characteristics such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. Additionally, the legislation mandates more comprehensive hate crime data reporting, requiring law enforcement agencies to submit quarterly reports to a central repository, and includes detailed procedures for collecting and analyzing hate crime information from both law enforcement and community organizations. The bill also modifies existing criminal statutes to strengthen penalties for assaults or property damage motivated by bias, expanding the list of protected characteristics and allowing for fines up to $5,000 and potential imprisonment. These changes reflect an effort to improve tracking, reporting, and legal recourse for hate-motivated incidents in the Commonwealth.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1126