New hate crime legislation introduced by Democrats

`Hate crime' means a crime in which the defendant intentionally selects a victim, or in the case of a property crime, the property that is the object of the crime, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, disability, or sexual orientation of any person.

H. R. 256
To enhance Federal enforcement of hate crimes, and for other purposes.

H.R.262
Title: To prevent hate crimes, to provide support services for victims of hate crimes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] (introduced 1/7/2009)

David Ray Ritcheson Hate Crime Prevention Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow victims of hate crimes to claim unemployment insurance for loss of employment directly resulting from their experience as victims of such crimes.

Prohibits health care insurers from taking into account whether a person is or has been a victim of a hate crime when making a determination as to eligibility for insurance coverage, the rate or premium of an insurance plan or policy, and the amount of insurance coverage provided.

Amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to allow a victim of a hate crime to take family and medical leave.

Authorizes the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to award grants to provide housing to victims of a hate crime, homeless individuals who require housing assistance as a result of being a victim of a hate crime, and individuals for whom emergency shelter services are unavailable or insufficient.

Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to: (1) provide counseling and related assistance to victims of hate crimes and their dependents; (2) establish and operate a national clearinghouse and resource center for information and statistics relating to the incidence and prevention of hate crimes; and (3) establish and operate a national, toll-free telephone hotline and a website to provide information and assistance to victims of hate crimes.

Requires the head of each federal agency to establish prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation programs and services relating to hate crimes for employees.