A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to increase the punishment for hate crimes.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 14‑3 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14‑3.  Punishment of misdemeanors, infamous offenses, offenses committed in secrecy and malice, or with deceit and intent to defraud, or against certain victims.
(a)	Except as provided in subsections (b), (c), and (d) of this section, every person who shall be convicted of any misdemeanor for which no specific classification and no specific punishment is prescribed by statute shall be punishable as a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any misdemeanor that has a specific punishment, but is not assigned a classification by the General Assembly pursuant to law is classified as follows, based on the maximum punishment allowed by law for the offense as it existed on the effective date of Article 81B of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes:
(1)	If that maximum punishment is more than six months imprisonment, it is a Class 1 misdemeanor;
(2)	If that maximum punishment is more than 30 days but not more than six months imprisonment, it is a Class 2 misdemeanor; and
(3)	If that maximum punishment is 30 days or less imprisonment or only a fine, it is a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Misdemeanors that have punishments for one or more counties or cities pursuant to a local act of the General Assembly that are different from the generally applicable punishment are classified pursuant to this subsection if not otherwise specifically classified.
(b)	If a misdemeanor offense as to which no specific punishment is prescribed be infamous, done in secrecy and malice, or with deceit and intent to defraud, the offender shall, except where the offense is a conspiracy to commit a misdemeanor, be guilty of a Class H felony.
(c)	Any person who commits a misdemeanor in whole or in substantial part because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim shall be punished as provided in subsection (d) of this section:
a.	Race.
b.	Color.
c.	Religion.
d.	Age.
e.	Nationality, national origin, or country of origin.
f.	Disability.
g.	Military or veteran status.
h.	Employment status or position.
i.	Socioeconomic status.
j.	Political affiliation.
k.	Association with a person or group with one or more of these actual characteristics.
(d)	If the offense committed under subsection (c) of this section is a Class 2 or Class 3 misdemeanor, the offender shall be guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor. If the offense committed under subsection (c) of this section is a Class A1 or Class 1 misdemeanor, the offender shall be guilty of a Class H felony."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 14‑401.14 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14‑401.14.  Intimidation of certain victims; teaching any technique to be used for intimidation of certain victims.
(a)	A person shall be guilty of a Class H felony if the person assaults another person or damages or defaces the property of another person in whole or in substantial part because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim:
a.	Race.
b.	Color.
c.	Religion.
d.	Age.
e.	Nationality, national origin, or country of origin.
f.	Disability.
g.	Military or veteran status.
h.	Employment status or position.
i.	Socioeconomic status.
j.	Political affiliation.
k.	Association with a person or group with one or more of these actual characteristics.
(b)	A person who assembles with one or more persons to teach any technique or means to be used to commit any act in violation of subsection (a) of this section is guilty of a Class A1 misdemeanor."
SECTION 3.  Article 81B of Chapter 15A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 15A‑1340.16E.  Enhanced sentence if defendant is convicted of a felony against certain victims.
(a)	If a person is convicted of a felony and it is found as provided in this section that the offense was committed as provided in subsection (b) of this section, then the person is guilty of a felony that is one class higher than the underlying felony for which the person was convicted.
(b)	This section shall apply to any person who commits a felony in whole or in substantial part because of one or more of the following actual or perceived characteristics of the victim:
a.	Race.
b.	Color.
c.	Religion.
d.	Age.
e.	Nationality, national origin, or country of origin.
f.	Disability.
g.	Military or veteran status.
h.	Employment status or position.
i.	Socioeconomic status.
j.	Political affiliation.
k.	Association with a person or group with one or more of these actual characteristics.
(c)	An indictment or information for the felony shall allege in that indictment or information or in a separate indictment or information the facts set out in subsection (b) of this section. The pleading is sufficient if it alleges that the defendant committed the felony in whole or in substantial part because of one or more of the actual or perceived characteristics stated in subsection (b) of this section. One pleading is sufficient for all felonies that are tried at a single trial.
(d)	The State shall prove the issue set out in subsection (b) of this section beyond a reasonable doubt during the same trial in which the defendant is tried for the felony unless the defendant pleads guilty or no contest to that issue. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest to the felony but pleads not guilty to the issue set out in subsection (b) of this section, then a jury shall be impaneled to determine that issue."
SECTION 4.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2017, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.