Hate crimes: hotline.

Existing law defines "hate crime" as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of actual or perceived characteristics of the victim, including, among other things, race, religion, disability, and sexual orientation. This bill would require the Attorney General to establish, maintain, and publicize a toll-free public hotline telephone number for the reporting of hate crimes, and for the dissemination of information about the characteristics of hate crimes, protected classes, civil remedies, and reporting options, as specified. The bill would require the Attorney General to post, maintain, and publicize a reporting form for hate crimes and hate incidents on his or her Internet Web site that can be completed and submitted online. The bill would require the Attorney General's Internet Web site to provide the public with the same information available through the hotline as described above.