It is hereby declared to be the policy of the Metro Government for the preservation of the peace, protection, comfort, health, safety, and welfare of persons in Jefferson County to protect all persons from tortious acts of interference with their person and/or their property motivated by hate or bias directed at classes of persons which historically have been victimized by such acts, as specifically set forth in Section (b)(1) of the federal Hate Crimes Statistics Act (Public Law 101-275) and, in addition, classes of persons identifiable by gender and/or disability or health related condition or homeless status. Persons victimized by such acts in Jefferson County must have adequate remedies for redress of their grievances. The Metro Government recognizes that such acts are often punishable as crimes. Criminal statutes undoubtedly have had a desirable effect in diminishing the number of these acts of discrimination, intimidation and terror in punishing the perpetrators of such acts. However, the Metro Government finds that many such acts are not reported as crimes because victims are frightened and feel they have little to gain by reporting them. The Metro Government further finds that its experience in providing civil redress for civil rights violations in the areas of public accommodations and housing, through the Louisville/Jefferson County Human Relations Commission, provides a promising model for diminishing acts of discrimination, intimidation and terror and for affording civil remedies for victims of such acts.
(1999 Lou. Code, § 98.48) (Lou. Ord. No. 281-1991, approved 11-13-1991; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 193-2004, approved 12-10-2004; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 148-2021, approved 10-26-2021)