Group Plans Effort To Revive Hate Crimes Legislation

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The author of a bill to recognize hate crimes in Indiana says there likely won't be any effort to revive the proposal even as supporters say they plan to push for the measure before the legislative session ends.

But David Sklar, a lobbyist for the Indianapolis Jewish Community Relations Council, said he still plans on speaking with lawmakers to possibly resurrect the proposal before the end of the legislative session on March 10.

The rejected bill was tabled nearly a week before vandals painted vulgar graffiti on a wall of the Islamic Society of North America in Plainfield. It would allow for tougher sentences by taking into account a victim's perceived or actual race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, disability, national origin, ancestry or sexual orientation.