Florida Bill Would Make Filing False Criminal Report Over Bias a Hate Crime

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Senate Democrat Barbara Sharief (D-Davie) recently filed a bill in the state legislature that would designate making a false criminal report due to personal bias a hate crime.

Under SB 406, a person would be accused of a hate crime if they intentionally select a person based on their "race, color, religion, religious practice, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, age, disability, sex, or sexual orientation."

The bill also noted the law would apply regardless of whether the belief or perception is accurate.

As a consequence, SB 406 would be a misdemeanor in the first degree, punishable under Florida Statute with a mandatory minimum term of 10 months in prison.

It also added that a court may order an individual to complete a 40-hour training program on hate crime prevention and education.

Barbara Sharief represents Senate District 35 in the Legislature. Sharief won her seat over Republican candidate Vincent Parlatore by 10 points in SD 35 this past November.

She also served as a Broward County commissioner for 11 years and as mayor of Miramar in 2013 and 2016. SD 35 covers part of Broward County, including Davie, Weston, Cooper City, Southwest Ranches, and Miramar.

Sharief is a Miami Beach native and graduated from North Miami Senior High School in 1989. She went on to earn an Associate of Science in Nursing from Miami Dade College, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing from Florida International University.

She later earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Wilkes University in 2017.

If passed, SB 406 would take effect on Oct. 1.

The Floridian has reached out to Sen. Sharief for comment