Peace officers: hate crime reporting guidelines.

Existing law requires every person or agency dealing with crimes or criminals to maintain the records necessary to report statistical data, and to report statistical data to the Department of Justice and the Attorney General. Existing law requires the Attorney General, subject to the availability of adequate funding, to direct local law enforcement agencies to report information related to hate crimes, as defined, to the Department of Justice. This bill would require specified reports of law enforcement agencies to include a check box and specified question that indicate whether an incident was a suspected hate crime. The bill would require law enforcement agencies to implement the provisions of the bill on or before July 1, 2019. By imposing requirements on local law enforcement agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.