877.19 Hate Crimes Reporting Act.

877.19 Hate Crimes Reporting Act.

   (1) SHORT TITLE. This section may be cited as the “Hate Crimes Reporting Act.”

   (2) ACQUISITION AND PUBLICATION OF DATA. The Governor, through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, shall collect and disseminate data on incidents of criminal acts that evidence prejudice based on race, religion, ethnicity, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, or national origin. All law enforcement agencies shall report monthly to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement concerning such offenses in such form and in such manner as prescribed by rules adopted by the department. Such information shall be compiled by the department and disseminated upon request to any local law enforcement agency, unit of local government, or state agency.

   (3) LIMITATION ON USE AND CONTENT OF DATA. Such information is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1). Data required pursuant to this section shall be used only for research or statistical purposes and shall not include any information that may reveal the identity of an individual victim of a crime.

   (4) ANNUAL SUMMARY. The Attorney General shall publish an annual summary of the data required pursuant to this section.

History. s. 1, ch. 89-132; s. 2, ch. 91-83; s. 1, ch. 94-125; s. 432, ch. 96-406.