Pa. to extend security grants to fight hate crimes
HARRISBURG, Pa. - Pennsylvania will provide millions of dollars in grants to protect houses of worship and other potentially targeted community organizations from hate crimes, a program inspired by the deadly mass shooting at Pittsburgh's Tree of Life synagogue a year ago.
Gov. Tom Wolf's office said Tuesday that the Democrat will sign the bill, now that it's passed the Legislature.
The bill creates a five-year, $5 million grant program to be administered by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
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Grants can range from $5,000 to $150,000, and eligible applicants are tax-exempt nonprofits that the FBI included within a bias motivation category for hate crimes in 2017.
The money can be used for anything that enhances an organization's safety. Mass shootings are spurring similar grant programs in a number of states.