(a) No person shall violate Ohio R.C. 2903.21, 2903.22, 2909.06, 2909.07 or 2917.21(A)(3) to (5) or Sections 537.05, 537.06, 537.10(a)(3) to (5), 541.03 or 541.04 of the General Offenses Code by reason of the race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation of another person or group of persons.
(b) In a prosecution under this section, the offenders’ motive, reason or purpose may be shown by the offender’s temporally related conduct or statements before, during or after the offense, including ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religious or racial slurs, and by the totality of the facts, circumstances and conduct surrounding the offense.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of intimidation. Intimidation is an offense of the next higher degree than the offense the commission of which is a necessary element of intimidation.
(d) This section does not apply if the facts alleged in the complaint would constitute a felony under Section 2927.12 of the Ohio Revised Code.
(e) The Police Department shall keep and maintain records of reported violations of this section and reported incidents the motive of which is victim’s race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation.
(Ord. 111-19. Passed 7-8-19.)