1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act”.
Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act
A BILL
To amend section 249 of title 18, United States Code, relating to hate crimes, to clarify the motive requirement.
2. Motive requirement for hate crimes
Section 249(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; and
by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following:
“(1) the term because of means that the actual or perceived protected characteristic of the victim was a substantial motivating factor in the offense;”