LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
2024 Legislative Session
Please see a listing of Bills below that affect crime victims. To read the complete bill click on the document link.
HOUSE BILLS
HB 16 - By Rep. England
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 05-Feb-24
2024 Regular Session
SYNOPSIS:
Under the Alabama Bail Reform Act of 1993, if cash bail is set by a judicial officer in a criminal proceeding, the defendant or some person on behalf of the defendant is required to deposit the total sum in cash with the court having jurisdiction.This bill would authorize the court to accept a cash deposit in an amount less than the total sumupon approval of the judicial officer setting the cash bail.
Bill Status:
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
HB27 - By Rep. England
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 05-Feb-24
2024 Regular Session
SYNOPSIS:
Prior to 2017, in capital murder cases, the jury
would provide an advisory verdict to the judge regarding the defendant's sentence. The jury's advisory sentence was not binding upon the court; however, the judge was required to give it consideration. This bill would provide that a defendant may be resentenced if a judge sentenced him or her to a sentence other than the jury's advisory sentence. This bill would repeal the existing code section relating to resentencing for certain defendants sentenced for capital murder. This bill would also make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.
Document Link:
Bill Status:
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
HB28 - By Rep. England
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 05-Feb-24
2024 Regular Session
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, a person commits the crime of murder if he or she attempts to commit certain felony offenses and in the course of, in furtherance of, or in the immediate flight therefrom, he or she, or another participant, causes the death of another person. This bill would provide an exception to the crime of murder, specifically, that a person does not commit the crime of murder if the person killed was a willing participant in the underlying felony. This bill would further provide for penalties for the crime of murder.
Document Link:
Bill Status:
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
HB29 - By Rep. England
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 05-Feb-24
2024 Regular Session
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, a person who has certain prior felony convictions may be given an enhanced sentence based on his or her prior felony convictions pursuant to the habitual felony offender act. This bill would provide that an individual whose sentence has been enhanced pursuant to the habitual felony offender act may be eligible to be resentenced in certain circumstances. This bill would also provide for the automatic repeal of this act on a October 1, 2029.
Document Link:
Bill Status:
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
HB30 - By Rep. England
RFD: State Government
First Read: 05-Feb-24
2024 Regular Session
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would create the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council to oversee the development and implementation of validated risk and needs assessments for offenders, parole guidelines, and classification guidelines of inmates. Under existing law, the Board of Pardons and Paroles uses the parole release guidelines as an aid in the parole process. This bill would require the Board of Pardons and Paroles to use parole release guidelines created by the Criminal Justice Policy Development Council in its parole decisions. This bill would provide that if the board deviates from the parole release guidelines, it would be required to state its reasons for the deviation. This bill would also provide appellate relief for prisoners who are negatively affected by the board's deviation from the parole release guidelines.
Document Link:
Bill Status:
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
HB63 - By Rep. Hill
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 06-Feb-24
PFD: 30-Jan-24
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, a judge may split the sentence of an offender who has received a sentence of 20 years of less. This bill would allow for a judge to split the sentence of an offender who receives a sentence of 30 years of less.
Document Link:
Bill Status:
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin