(a) A persistent offender of crimes involving bigotry or bias is a person who (1) stands convicted of a violation of section 46a-58, 53-37a, 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l, and (2) has been, prior to the commission of the present crime, convicted of a violation of section 46a-58, 53-37a, 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l or section 53a-181b in effect prior to October 1, 2000.

(b) When any person has been found to be a persistent offender of crimes involving bigotry or bias, the court shall: (1) In lieu of imposing the sentence authorized for the crime under section 53a-35a if the crime is a felony, impose the sentence of imprisonment authorized by said section for the next more serious degree of felony, or (2) in lieu of imposing the sentence authorized for the crime under section 53a-36 if the crime is a misdemeanor, impose the sentence of imprisonment authorized by said section for the next more serious degree of misdemeanor, except that if the crime is a class A misdemeanor the court shall impose the sentence of imprisonment for a class D felony as authorized by section 53a-35a.

(P.A. 90-137, S. 2; P.A. 00-72, S. 10; Jan. Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-1, S. 8.)

History: P.A. 00-72 amended Subsec. (a) to replace reference in Subdiv. (1) to “subsection (a) or (c) of section 53a-181b” with reference to Sec. “53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l” and to replace reference in Subdiv. (2) to “subsection (a) or (c) of section 53a-181b” with reference to “section 53a-181j, 53a-181k or 53a-181l or section 53a-181b in effect prior to October 1, 2000” and amended Subsec. (b) to make technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality; Jan. Sp. Sess. P.A. 08-1 amended Subsec. (b) to delete requirement for imposition of enhanced sentence that “the court is of the opinion that such person's history and character and the nature and circumstances of such person's criminal conduct indicate that an increased penalty will best serve the public interest”, effective January 25, 2008.