Report 2017-131 Recommendation Responses

Report 2017-131: Hate Crimes in California: Law Enforcement Has Not Adequately Identified, Reported, or Responded to Hate Crimes (Release Date: May 2018)

Recommendation for Legislative Action

To address the increase in hate crimes reported in California, the Legislature should require DOJ to add region-specific data fields to the hate crime database, including items such as the zip code in which the reported hate crimes took place as well as other fields that DOJ determines will support its outreach efforts.

Description of Legislative Action

As of September 16, 2022, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

AB 57 (Chapter 691, Statutes of 2021) would have required DOJ to add a region-specific data field to the hate crimes database. This provision was removed from the bill.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

As of May 31, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

As of May 31, 2021, the Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

AB 57 (Gabriel) would have required DOJ to add a region-specific data field to the hate crimes database. This provision was removed from the bill.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

SB 1135 (Jones, 2020) would have required DOJ, when collecting data on hate crimes, to additionally collect data regarding the zip code of where the hate crime took place. The bill also would have required DOJ to create and distribute outreach materials about hate crimes to assist local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to engage the communities they serve, analyze data about hate crimes for trends by region, and send advisory notices to local law enforcement agencies when it detects hate crime patterns or trends. This bill failed passage due to adjournment of the 2019-20 Regular Legislative Session.

AB 2235 (Gabriel, 2020) would have, among other provisions, required DOJ, in consultation with subject matter experts, including civil rights organizations, to add region-specific data fields to the DOJ hate crime database, as recommended by the State Auditor. This bill died in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

AB 301 (Chu, 2019) would have required DOJ, in consultation with subject matter experts, including civil rights organizations, to add region-specific data fields to its hate crimes database. The bill died in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Legislation Proposed But Not Enacted


Description of Legislative Action

AB 301 (Chu) would, among other provisions, require DOJ, in consultation with subject matter experts, including civil rights organizations, to add region-specific data fields to the its hate crimes database, as recommended in this audit.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Legislation Introduced


Description of Legislative Action

The Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken


Description of Legislative Action

The Legislature has not taken action to address this specific recommendation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken


All Recommendations in 2017-131