Time almost out for hate-crimes bill

Tuesday and Wednesday were likely the last voting days of the current state legislative session, and the LGBT-inclusive hate-crimes bill was not among the measures called to a vote in either chamber.

Another voting session could be scheduled, but many pundits are predicting that to be unlikely.

House Bill 177 had gained momentum in the House following last month’s gay-bashing incident in Philadelphia, and cleared the House Judiciary Committee last week.

Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-170th Dist.) introduced the bill and said he worked aggressively to push it to the House floor, but came up against more roadblocks.

“Republican leadership, i.e. Speaker [Sam] Smith, is responsible for putting the bill on the agenda, and he has not done it,” said Boyle’s legislative assistant Nick Himebaugh on Tuesday.

Smith (R-66th Dist.) did not respond to a request for comment from PGN. Additionally, state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf (R-12th Dist.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, never called HB 177’s Senate counterpart, SB 42, to a vote.

Thus, both bills are likely effectively dead until the next session, which begins Jan. 6.

“It is possible for the bill to be added to a special lame-duck session — which can be convened in between official legislative sessions to address unfinished items in the House — but there is no guarantee such a session will happen,” said Himebaugh.

But Himebaugh said Boyle, who is campaigning for a Congressional seat in the Nov. 4 election, remains optimistic that the bill will move forward next session and that his brother, Rep. Kevin Boyle, will help press for the measure if he wins his race.

“The farther we move the bar this session, the easier it will make things for us next session. Hopefully there will be a few new faces in the House that will be more open-minded and willing to see this through. And if [Boyle’s] not in office next session, I know his brother is equally committed to getting HB 177 passed.”

Newsletter Sign-up