(AP) — Louisiana is poised to become the first state in the nation to expand its hate-crime laws to protect police, firefighters and emergency medical crews — a move that could stir the national debate over the relationship between law enforcement and minorities. Existing hate-crime laws provide for larger fines and longer prison terms if a person is targeted because of race, gender, religion, nationality, sexual orientation or affiliation with certain organizations. People convicted of assaulting police officers already face increased penalties in many states, including Louisiana. [...] crimes against public-safety officials are being "investigated and prosecuted vigorously under current Louisiana law," said Allison Padilla-Goodman, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, who wrote the Louisiana governor asking for his veto. Louisiana's legislation was prompted by a number of high-profile attacks on police, including the killing of a suburban Houston deputy who was shot 15 times in an August 2015 ambush, according to the Republican lawmaker who proposed the bill. Supporters say federal legislation would protect officers in states that do not have police hate-crime laws and would help provide federal investigative resources in such cases. Under the Louisiana measure, people convicted of felony hate crimes singling out police or other first responders would face an additional five years in prison and up to a $5,000 fine.