MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — It would be a hate crime to target someone because of their sexual orientation or employment as a law enforcement officer, under a bill a legislative committee approved Wednesday.
The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-2 for legislation to add law enforcement to other categories, such as race and religion, already included in the hate crime statute. But a divided committee also amended the bill to add crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation.
The bill now moves to the full Alabama Senate.