1.  By [Author’s Name] of [Author’s YMCA Delegation]
2. 
3.  	A BILL
4. 	To Be Entitled
5.
6.  An Act pertaining to the sentencing of perpetrators of hate crimes, and declaring an
7.  emergency.
8. 
9.  Be it enacted by the YMCA Youth Legislature of the State of Texas.
10. 
11. Section 1.  Definitions as used in this Act:
12. Hate crime – an offense where, in the guilt or innocence phase of a trial, the judge or
13. the jury, whichever is the trier of fact, determines beyond a reasonable doubt that the
14. defendant intentionally selected the person against whom the offense was committed
15. or intentionally selected property damaged or affected as a result of the offense
16. because of the defendant's bias or prejudice against a group identified by race, color,
17. disability, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, gender, or sexual preference.
18.
19. Section 2.  Punishment for any offense shall not be in any way increased by reason of
20. the offense being found a hate crime by a judge or jury in the guilt or innocence phase
21. of a trial.
22.
23. Section 3.  This Act shall take effect on June 1, 2003.
24.
25. Section 4.  Repealer Clause.  All laws or parts of laws in conflict with this Act are
26. herewith repealed to the extent of the conflict only.
27.
28. Section 5.  Severability Clause.  If any portion of this Act shall be declared
29. unconstitutional, it is the intention of the Legislature that the other portions shall
30. remain in full force and effect.
31.
32. Section 6.  Emergency Clause.  The importance of this legislation and the crowded
33. condition of the calendar in both Houses create an emergency and an imperative
34. public necessity that the constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three
35. separate days in each House be suspended, and this Rule is hereby suspended.