S. 937 · 117th Congress · Senate

COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

Enacted· Became Public Law No: 117-13.
Introduced
Mar 23, 21
Passed Senate
Apr 22, 21
Passed House
May 18, 21
Sent to President
May 19, 21
Signed into Law
May 20, 21

Executive Summary

COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes and reports of hate crimes.

DOJ must issue guidance for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on establishing online hate crime reporting processes, collecting data disaggregated by protected characteristic (e.g., race or national origin), and expanding education campaigns.

Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

The bill establishes grants for states to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines. It also authorizes grants for states and local governments to implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System and to conduct law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs to prevent, address, or respond to hate crimes.

Finally, in the case of an individual convicted of a hate crime offense and placed on supervised release, the bill allows a court to order that the individual participate in educational classes or community service as a condition of supervised release.

Previous Versions

53May 18, 2021

COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes and reports of hate crimes.

DOJ must issue guidance for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on establishing online hate crime reporting processes, collecting data disaggregated by protected characteristic (e.g., race or national origin), and expanding education campaigns.

Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

The bill establishes grants for states to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines. It also authorizes grants for states and local governments to implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System and to conduct law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs to prevent, address, or respond to hate crimes.

Finally, in the case of an individual convicted of a hate crime offense and placed on supervised release, the bill allows a court to order that the individual participate in educational classes or community service as a condition of supervised release.

55Apr 22, 2021

COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of hate crimes and reports of hate crimes.

DOJ must issue guidance for state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies on establishing online hate crime reporting processes, collecting data disaggregated by protected characteristic (e.g., race or national origin), and expanding education campaigns.

Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance aimed at raising awareness of hate crimes during the COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic.

The bill establishes grants for states to create state-run hate crimes reporting hotlines. It also authorizes grants for states and local governments to implement the National Incident-Based Reporting System and to conduct law enforcement activities or crime reduction programs to prevent, address, or respond to hate crimes.

Finally, in the case of an individual convicted of a hate crime offense and placed on supervised release, the bill allows a court to order that the individual participate in educational classes or community service as a condition of supervised release.

00Mar 23, 2021

COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act

This bill requires a designated officer or employee of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) hate crimes and reports of COVID-19 hate crimes.

It defines COVID-19 hate crime as a violent crime that is motivated by two things: (1) the actual or perceived characteristic (e.g., race or ethnicity) of any person, and (2) the actual or perceived relationship to the spread of COVID-19 of any person because of that characteristic.

The bill requires DOJ to issue guidance for state and local law enforcement agencies on how to establish online hate crime reporting processes in multiple languages and how to expand culturally competent education campaigns. Additionally, DOJ and the Department of Health and Human Services must issue guidance on best practices for mitigating racially discriminatory language in describing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Action Timeline

34
  1. MAY 20, 2021BecameLaw

    Signed by President.

  2. MAY 20, 2021President

    Signed by President.

  3. MAY 20, 2021BecameLaw

    Became Public Law No: 117-13.

    117Yea
    13Nay
    0NV
  4. MAY 20, 2021President

    Became Public Law No: 117-13.

    117Yea
    13Nay
    0NV
  5. MAY 19, 2021President

    Presented to President.

  6. MAY 19, 2021Floor

    Presented to President.

  7. MAY 18, 2021Floor

    Mr

    Nadler moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

  8. MAY 18, 2021Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules

    (consideration: CR H2464-2472)

    2464Yea
    2472Nay
    0NV
  9. MAY 18, 2021Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on S. 937.

  10. MAY 18, 2021Floor

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered

    Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  11. MAY 18, 2021Floor

    Considered as unfinished business

    (consideration: CR H2479-2480)

    2479Yea
    2480Nay
    0NV
  12. MAY 18, 2021Floor

    Passed/agreed to in House

    Roll Call #145

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 364 - 62 (Roll no. 145).(text: CR H2464-2466)

    364Yea
    62Nay
    0NV
  13. MAY 18, 2021Floor

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays

    Roll Call #145

    (2/3 required): 364 - 62 (Roll no. 145). (text: CR H2464-2466)

    364Yea
    62Nay
    0NV
  14. MAY 18, 2021Floor

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  15. APR 26, 2021Floor

    Received in the House.

  16. APR 26, 2021Floor

    Held at the desk.

  17. APR 22, 2021Floor

    Considered by Senate

    (consideration: CR S2140-2148)

    2140Yea
    2148Nay
    0NV
  18. APR 22, 2021Floor

    Passed/agreed to in Senate

    Passed Senate, under the order of 4/21/21, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 1. Record Vote Number: 165.(text: CR S2148-2150)

    94Yea
    1Nay
    0NV
  19. APR 22, 2021Floor

    Passed Senate, under the order of 4/21/21, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 94 - 1. Record Vote Number: 165. (text: CR S2148-2150)

    94Yea
    1Nay
    0NV
  20. APR 22, 2021Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  21. APR 21, 2021Floor

    Cloture motion on the measure withdrawn by unanimous consent in Senate. (CR S2117)

  22. APR 20, 2021Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration

    CR S2043, S2046, S2058)

  23. APR 20, 2021Floor

    Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S2061)

  24. APR 19, 2021Floor

    Considered by Senate

    (consideration: CR S2002-2003)

    2002Yea
    2003Nay
    0NV
  25. APR 15, 2021Floor

    Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1953)

  26. APR 15, 2021Floor

    Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Unanimous Consent.

  27. APR 15, 2021Floor

    Measure laid before Senate by motion

    (consideration: CR S1998)

  28. APR 14, 2021Floor

    Cloture on the motion to proceed invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote

    92 - 6. Record Vote Number: 151. (CR S1923)

    92Yea
    6Nay
    0NV
  29. APR 14, 2021Floor

    Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S1923)

  30. MAR 25, 2021Floor

    Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S1804-1805)

    1804Yea
    1805Nay
    0NV
  31. MAR 25, 2021Floor

    Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S1805)

  32. MAR 24, 2021Calendars

    Read the second time

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 13.

  33. MAR 23, 2021IntroReferral

    Introduced in Senate

  34. MAR 23, 2021Calendars

    Introduced in the Senate

    Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.