An Act regularizing sentencing for hate crimes

This bill amends Massachusetts hate crime laws to require defendants found guilty or granted a "continuation without a finding" to complete a diversity awareness program before being released from prison or finishing their probation. The mandatory program is designed by the state's public safety secretary, developed with input from the commission against discrimination, and approved by the chief justice of the trial court. Courts must order this training unless they provide specific written reasons for an exemption based on good cause. The law explicitly covers hate crimes motivated by race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.