Indiana Forward Applauds Senate Leadership for Hearing Comprehensive Bias Crimes Legislation

 Please see below for a statement from the Indiana Forward campaign in response to Senate Bill 12 being sent to the Public Policy Committee for a hearing this Monday, February 18.  The Indiana Forward campaign is encouraged that Senate leadership has assigned Senate Bill 12 to be heard in the Public Policy Committee this Monday, February 18. We are also heartened that the bill’s language includes an enumerated list of characteristics that includes race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, sex, disability, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Senate Bill 12 is an extremely reasonable step that we can take to make sure that communities, prosecutors and judges have the tools they need to properly address these crimes when they happen. As representatives of the state’s business, philanthropic, advocacy and faith communities, we urge our lawmakers to give SB 12 the consideration it deserves and to preserve this enumerated list of characteristics so that the resulting policy will be effective. Members of the Indiana Forward campaign plan to testify before the Public Policy Committee on Monday, and we are proud to join Gov. Eric Holcomb in advocating for clear and comprehensive bias crimes legislation that leaves no Hoosier behind and gives our judges the guidance they need to penalize bias-motivated crimes to the fullest extent. As this bill moves through the legislative process, we encourage organizations and individuals from around the state to join this effort that is so critical to the safety of our people, the health and vitality of our businesses, and the success of our state – now and for years to come. We welcome all to sign up for the Indiana Forward campaign at IndianaForward.org/TakeAction today. 

About Indiana ForwardIndiana Forward is a broad and bipartisan statewide campaign that includes major state employers, non-profits, faith-based groups, the Indy Chamber, the Indiana Competes coalition, trade groups, colleges and universities, and more. The campaign is advocating for the 2019 Indiana General Assembly to pass a clear, specific and comprehensive bias crimes law that allows judges to enhance criminal sentences when the crime was motivated by bias toward a victim’s characteristics including: race; ethnicity; religion; national origin; sex; disability; gender identity; and sexual orientation. Indiana Forward is united by the principles that:• By protecting all residents in Indiana, we foster an environment of economic, cultural and individual growth.• Hoosiers deserve to feel safe where they live and work, and the state has a responsibility to prevent crimes of hate from happening in their community.• Indiana stands to benefit greatly – and has nothing to lose – by passing a clear and comprehensive bias crimes law in 2019. Bias crimes legislation is pro-business and pro-Hoosier.Indiana Forward invites companies, non-profits, individuals and more to join the campaign at IndianaForward.org and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.