SearchBy Jordan Lindsey, Executive Director, The Arc of California
All Californians, but especially people with disabilities, will be better protected from hate crimes under a bill sponsored by the Arc/UCP California Collaboration and other community groups that’s up for a vote in the full Assembly this week.
The Freedom from Hate Crimes Act, AB 1947 by Assemblymember Phil Ting of San Francisco, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee Thursday.
Anti-disability hate crimes are widespread but often invisible, rarely recognized or reported and virtually never prosecuted. Our bill will require all law enforcement agencies to adopt detailed, specific instructions to officers on how to better enforce the California hate crimes law.
The bill is based on the 2018 report of the State Auditor which found that “law enforcement has not adequately identified, reported or responded to hate crimes.” The Arc-UCP led the civil rights groups that successfully sought the audit, as we are leading sponsors and supporters of this bill.
AB 1947 is the state’s most important hate crimes bill since SB 1234 of 2004, which expanded the hate crimes law and added disability as a protected characteristic.