A watered-down version of a hate-crimes statistics bill was finally passed out of a House committee Friday morning after dozens of people testified for and against.
Its companion legislation - a bill that would enhance punishment for crimes committed against people and property for religious, racial, ancestry and sexual orientation - likely will be voted on by committee members next Tuesday.The enhancement bill may well fail. Some committee members say they want to wait a year or two to see the statistics created under the first bill. Others say they want a more comprehensive law aimed at enhancing penalties for anyone who commits a crime based on premediated hate - not limited to any category.
A sticking point in both bills is the phrase "sexual orientation." Conservative groups like the Eagle Forum and Families Alert oppose the bills specifically because they worry that including homosexuals in any law will give them a type of special status. That is denied by supporters of the bills.
A number of people spoke in favor of the bills Friday - Hispanics, blacks and Jews.
Speaking at the hearing, James Gonzales said he was offended because some committee members told him if "sexual orientation" was taken out, the bills would "fly through."