Alternative To Hate Crimes Bill Filed In Arkansas Legislature

By GEORGE JARED/ TALK BUSINESS & POLITICS

Arkansas is one of the only states without some type of hate crime law on the books, and Gov. Asa Hutchinson has said more than once it’s a top priority for him during the current legislative session. SB622, filed Thursday will attempt to solve that problem.

The bill, filed by Sen. Jimmy Hickey Jr., R-Texarkana, Sen. Alan Clark, R-Lonsdale, Rep. Matthew Shepherd, R-El Dorado, and Rep. Carol Dalby, R-Texarkana, had not been assigned to a committee as of Thursday morning. Talk Business & Politics has confirmed that the bill is an alternative to the previously filed hate crimes legislation which has stalled during the session. It’s described as a “class protection bill.”

https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/post/alternative-hate-crimes-bill-filed-arkansas-legislature

A hate crimes bill has so far not gained any momentum in the Arkansas General Assembly, so SB622 was filed Thursday as an alternative.

CREDIT MICHAEL HIBBLEN / KUAR NEWS

VIDEO: Governor Hutchinson Commends Legislators For Draft of Proposed Hate-Crime Legislation

Governor Asa Hutchinson, Attorney General, Members of the General Assembly Present Proposed Hate-Crime Legislation on August 19, 2020

LITTLE ROCK – The draft of hate-crime legislation that members of the Senate and House have crafted moves the state closer to the goal of passing and implementing a much-needed hate-crime law, Governor Asa Hutchinson said today during a press conference in the Capitol’s second-floor rotunda.

The Governor joined members of the General Assembly, administration officials, and business leaders as they introduced a draft of the proposed law that legislative leaders are preparing for the 93rd General Assembly in January.  

“I want Arkansas to say plainly and clearly that we will not tolerate violence against anyone because of their race, their religion, or because of who they are,” Governor Hutchinson said. “We don’t need new laws. We need to enhance the penalty for a crime when someone targets a victim because of a specific characteristic.

“We are at the point in our history that we must hold to a greater degree of accountability those people who target individuals because of where they were born, how they worship, or how they choose to live. I commend the legislators for their leadership in moving ahead with this legislation.”