The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 559, Sen. R. Michael Young’s bill to make a number of changes to crimes of violence. Sen. Young explained that the bill adds unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon to the definition of “crimes of violence.” The bill establishes new caps for consecutive sentences that result from a single episode of criminal conduct. Sen. Young explained that the changes are a result of unintended disproportion in the caps enacted in last year’s criminal law reform causing the maximum sentences for some of the new levels of felonies to be higher than the advisory sentences for the next higher felony level. The bill establishes a mandatory 20-year sentencing enhancement for a person who knowingly or intentionally points or discharges a firearm at a law enforcement officer while committing an offense. If the person is convicted of the charged offense, the jury will then resolve whether the State proved the pointing or shooting of the firearm at an officer beyond a reasonable doubt. The bill also makes a number of technical corrections in the penal code. After testimony in support of the bill from prosecutors and police officers, the bill passed 6-2.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/559.