Bill Text: MI SB1174 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Civil rights; sex discrimination and harassment; sexual orientation and gender identity or expression; include in hate crimes. Amends sec. 147b of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.147b).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-06-07 - Referred To Committee On Government Operations [SB1174 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-SB1174-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 1174
June 7, 2012, Introduced by Senators JOHNSON, GREGORY, BIEDA, WARREN, HOPGOOD, YOUNG, HOOD, WHITMER, GLEASON, SMITH and ANDERSON and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
A bill to amend 1931 PA 328, entitled
"The Michigan penal code,"
by amending section 147b (MCL 750.147b), as added by 1988 PA 371.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 147b. (1) A person is guilty of ethnic intimidation if
that person maliciously, and with specific intent to intimidate or
harass another person because of that person's race, color,
religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual
orientation, or national origin, does any of the following:
(a) Causes physical contact with another person.
(b) Damages, destroys, or defaces any real or personal
property of another person.
(c) Threatens, by word or act, to do an act described in
subdivision (a) or (b), if there is reasonable cause to believe
that an act described in subdivision (a) or (b) will occur.
(2) Ethnic intimidation is a felony punishable by imprisonment
for not more than 2 years, or by a fine of not more than $5,000.00,
or both.
(3) Regardless of the existence or outcome of any criminal
prosecution, a person who suffers injury to his or her person or
damage to his or her property as a result of ethnic intimidation
may bring a civil cause of action against the person who commits
the offense to secure an injunction, actual damages, including
damages for emotional distress, or other appropriate relief. A
plaintiff
who prevails in a civil action brought pursuant to under
this section may recover both of the following:
(a) Damages in the amount of 3 times the actual damages
described in this subsection or $2,000.00, whichever is greater.
(b) Reasonable attorney fees and costs.