An Act to amend the definition of hate crime

This bill amends Massachusetts state law to clarify how hate crimes are defined and handled. It changes the language in the hate crime statute to specify that the offense involves harming "another" person rather than "a person," ensuring the victim is clearly distinguished from the perpetrator. Additionally, the bill mandates that any court-ordered restitution for property damage in hate crime cases must be used specifically to repair the damaged property. These changes aim to make the legal definition more precise and ensure that financial penalties directly address the harm caused to victims.