Gov. Kathy Hochul on Thursday detailed items in her state budget that she said were intended to crack down on hate crimes.

It comes at a time when efforts are being made on both sides of the aisle to shine a spotlight on crime victims.

“I announced that there will be a series of crimes added to the list of what can be prosecuted as a hate crime, everything from rape and gang assault, to the graffiti that we saw last night,” she said.

It’s an issue that State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal has prioritized.

“As we witness an unprecedented rise in bias-motivated crimes against Jewish, Muslim, Asian American and LGBTQ people, it’s of utmost importance that New York closes the dozens of loopholes in our hate crime statute to send the urgent message that hatred won’t be tolerated in our state,” he said. “I’m proud Governor Hochul has included the Hate Crimes Modernization Act (S7737), which I introduced with District Attorney Bragg and Assembly Member Lee, in her Executive Budget. This bill will give prosecutors the necessary tools to take appropriate action against hate so we can better protect New Yorkers of differing backgrounds. I urge my colleagues to join us in supporting this vital legislation.”

Last week, Hochul pledged in her state budget to also crack down on domestic violence, including through a $5 million grant intended for victims of domestic violence to cover expenses in emergency situations.

"Most of the abusers are never prosecuted, so they go at it again and again,” the governor said in her budget address. “That’s why in addition to support for survivors, my budget directs another $40 million to law enforcement and district attorneys."

Also included in the budget is $120 million to prevent crime victims from suffering as a result of federal program shortfalls.

Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas said it’s a step in the right direction but not enough. She told Spectrum News 1 that victims of domestic violence, in particular, need to be provided assistance throughout their ordeals and assisted in gaining access to resources that would enable them to get out of that situation.

“Those survivors of domestic abuse, if they can’t leave the conditions of their abuser, and oftentimes that’s getting out into safe housing, it becomes very difficult,” she said.

Republican Assembly Member Matt Simpson serves on its Social Services Committee.

He emphasized that he feels Democratic policies put more New Yorkers in the position of being crime victims and criticized his colleagues on the other side of the aisle for acting, he said, only after those policies were implemented. He added the state must do more to provide victim services.

“The whole legal process for a crime victim is very burdensome,” he said. “I think we could do a much better job of providing representation that they need and the opportunity to be heard.”

Assembly Member Ed Ra emphasized the need to support offices at the local level that can provide day-to-day assistance to victims.

“I know one of the things my local government did in Nassau County was create an ombudsman type within the DA’s office that was there to help crime victims when they needed to testify and that type of thing,” he said.

January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month. González-Rojas has introduced legislation, along with state Senator Cordell Cleare, to provide resources for non-citizens who are victims of serious crimes like human trafficking, but are not eligible for other benefits.

It would provide temporary assistance and medical care to victims of crimes covered by T (human trafficking-related) and U (serious crimes) visas, asylum, special immigrant juvenile status (SIJS) and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitions while they await a decision on those visas.

“So they can get access to things like SNAP food assistance, Medicaid, health care, housing assistance, cash assistance for a period of time while they are waiting for their visas,” she said.

Republicans argued the bill goes too far.

“What this does is allows them to collect Temporary Aid to Needy Families, which by the way, a New York state citizen will not be able to collect as a crime victim,” state Senator George Borrello said, arguing that New York state law already provides protections for non-citizen crime victims.

Cleare, however, stressed the need to provide additional protections.

“Non-citizens are among the most vulnerable human beings in the entire Empire State and they deserve every single measure of our protection and support,” she said. “Sadly, we know that vile and repugnant human traffickers will seek to exploit any situation, which is why a comprehensive approach, including our Connect And Recognize Every Survivor (CARES) Act must be implemented now.”