Honorable Joe Moody, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB64 by Dutton (Relating to abolishing the death penalty.), As Introduced
The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend various codes as they relate to abolishing the death penalty. Under the provisions of the bill, an individual convicted of a capital felony could not be sentenced to death. Under existing statute, a capital felony is punishable by death or life imprisonment.
Increasing the number of individuals sentenced to life imprisonment is expected to result in increased demands upon correctional resources of the State due to longer terms of confinement within state correctional institutions. In fiscal year 2016, fewer than ten individuals were admitted into state correctional institutions after being sentenced to death for a capital felony. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions would not result in a significant impact on the demand for state correctional resources.