The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Sen. Merritt’s and Sen. Ruckelhaus’ SB 155 on capital punishment and serious mental illness. This bill establishes a procedure to determine whether a defendant charged with or convicted of murder is an individual with a serious mental illness. It also prohibits the imposition of the death penalty on a defendant found to be an individual with a ser … [Read more...] about Capital punishment and serious mental illness
Criminal
Contributing to delinquency
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Koch’s SB 189 on contributing to delinquency. The bill provides that the penalty for the crime of contributing to delinquency of a minor is a felony one level higher than that of the delinquent act committed by the child, except that: (1) the penalty for inducing a child to commit a Level 1 felony is a Level 1 felony; and ( … [Read more...] about Contributing to delinquency
Bail
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. M. Young’s SB 228 on bail. The bill codifies bail guidelines recommending that arrestees, with some exclusions, who do not present a substantial risk of flight or danger be released without bail, subject to restrictions determined by the court. The bill also repeals a provision relating to the impeachment of witnesses. An a … [Read more...] about Bail
DNA for felony arrestees
The Senate Judiciary Committee heard Sen. Houchin’s SB 322 on submitting DNA for felony arrestees. This bill requires every person arrested for a felony after June 30, 2017, to submit a DNA sample, and specifies that the sample may be obtained only by buccal swab. It also provides for the expungement of a DNA sample taken from a person if the person is acquitted of all felony c … [Read more...] about DNA for felony arrestees
Possession of a firearm by an illegal alien
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. M. Young’s SB 344 on possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. The bill provides that an alien who is illegally or unlawfully present in the United States and knowingly or intentionally possesses a firearm commits unlawful possession of a firearm by an alien, a Level 6 felony. Testimony in support of the bill was heard f … [Read more...] about Possession of a firearm by an illegal alien