Death penalty; restricted for those 18 yrs. or older at time of offense. (SB362)

Introduced By

Sen. Patsy Ticer (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patrons Del. Ken Melvin (D-Portsmouth), Sen. Tommy Norment (R-Williamsburg), and Sen. Ken Stolle (R-Virginia Beach)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Elimination of capital punishment for minors; penalty. Restricts the death penalty to those who are 18 years of age or older at the time of the capital offense. Currently, the age requirement to receive the death penalty is 16 years of age or older at the time of the offense. This change is being made in response to the case of Roper v. Simmons, 543 U.S. 551 (2005), decided March 1, 2005, in which the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments forbid the execution of offenders who were under the age of 18 at the time of the crime. Read the Bill »

Status

04/05/2006: signed by governor

History

DateAction
01/11/2006Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/11/06 061241134
01/11/2006Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
01/13/2006Fiscal impact statement from VCSC (SB362)
01/25/2006Reported from Courts of Justice (14-Y 1-N)
01/27/2006Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N)
01/27/2006VOTE: (38-Y 0-N)
01/30/2006Read second time and engrossed
01/31/2006Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 3-N)
01/31/2006VOTE: (34-Y 3-N)
01/31/2006Communicated to House
02/14/2006Placed on Calendar
02/14/2006Read first time
02/14/2006Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
02/16/2006Assigned Courts sub: Criminal Law
03/01/2006Reported from Courts of Justice (11-Y 10-N)
03/03/2006Read second time
03/06/2006Read third time
03/06/2006Passed House (63-Y 34-N)
03/06/2006VOTE: PASSAGE (63-Y 34-N)
03/15/2006Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB362ER)
03/15/2006Enrolled
03/15/2006Fiscal impact statement from VCSC (SB362ER)
03/15/2006Signed by Speaker
03/16/2006Signed by President
03/29/2006Fiscal impact statement from DPB (SB362ER)
04/05/2006G Approved by Governor-Chapter 733 (effective 7/1/06)
04/17/2006G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0733)