Hate-crimes bill dies

Despite renewed grass-roots support this week and 90 minutes of debate Friday, hate-crimes legislation has died for the second time this session and for a ninth time overall.

A 7-4 vote in the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Standing Committee likely ends any attempts to pass HB50, a bill that would have enhanced penalties for crimes based on bias or prejudice. Even reminders to lawmakers that the martyrdom of LDS Church founder Joseph Smith was technically a hate crime were not enough to sway favor for the bill, which died in the Senate last week.

Sponsor Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, said he hasn't given up on the measure that has been nine years in the making.

"I don't think any of my colleagues believe this is the end," Litvack said.

A KSL-TV/Deseret Morning News survey taken earlier this month showed that 41 percent of Utahns "strongly favor" and 22 percent "somewhat favor" the legislation. Twenty percent "strongly oppose" the bill and 12 percent said they were somewhat opposed.

Legislators who voted against the bill cited concerns about creating protected classes of citizens, noting that the crimes described can be prosecuted without an added enhancement.

Rep. Curt Oda, R-Clearfield, reminded fellow committee members that he is a minority, then said he believed the bill to be divisive.

"A crime is a crime is a crime," Oda said. "Let's let the courts do their job. Let's enforce the (existing) laws."

Litvack asked his fellow committee members "where were all those cries" of opposition to enhancements such as attacks on elected officials, pregnant women and on school employees.

"Hate crimes are unique," Litvack said. "The effect of that crime . . . is fear throughout an entire targeted community."

He recalled his personal experience of being singled out for being Jewish, most recently when a member of a white supremacist group stood on his front lawn, intending to throw a stone through his window.

The bill had the support of law enforcement officers and prosecutors. Recent public opinion polls had shown support among voters for the measure as well.