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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T





SPONSOR: HJC DATE TYPED: 02/27/99 HB 305/HJCS
SHORT TITLE: Abolish Death Penalty SB
ANALYST: Woodlee/O'Connell


APPROPRIATION



Appropriation Contained
Estimated Additional Impact
 Recurring

or Non-Rec

 Fund

Affected

FY99 FY2000 FY99 FY2000
$ 0.0 $ 0.0 NFI NFI NFI NFI



(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)



Conflicts with House Bill 479



SOURCES OF INFORMATION



Attorney General

Corrections Department

LFC Files



SUMMARY



Synopsis of Bill



House Judiciary Committee substitute for House Bill 305 would abolish the sentence of death as an option when a criminal defendant has been convicted of a capital penalty (first degree murder). All persons convicted of a capital offense would be punished by a sentence of life imprisonment. The substitute bill also provides for a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.



Significant Issues



According to the Attorney General, the bill removes the provisions for the death penalty from the Sentencing Authority of Capital Felonies. Also, it repeals provisions under the Execution of Death Sentence Act and repeals the Capital Felony Sentencing Act.





CONFLICT/DUPLICATION/COMPANIONSHIP/RELATIONSHIP



Conflicts with House Bill 479 which would provide for life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, but not abolish the death penalty.



MW/prr