SB68 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Death penalty, moratorium on imposition and execution not to exceed three years, procedure for administering

Summary

SB68 would pause Alabama's death penalty for three years and require new procedures to ensure fair and impartial administration.

What This Bill Does

It imposes a three-year moratorium on the imposition or execution of the death penalty. During the moratorium, the state must implement procedures to ensure fairness and due process, including adopting the ABA guidelines for defense counsel in death penalty cases, strengthening post-conviction relief procedures, eliminating racial discrimination in capital sentencing, and preventing the execution of mentally retarded individuals or those who were under 18 at the time of the offense. The bill becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is passed and approved by the Governor.

Who It Affects

• Death penalty defendants: face a three-year pause on imposition and execution of their sentences.
• Defense attorneys in death penalty cases: must follow the American Bar Association guidelines for defense counsel in such cases.
• Persons who are mentally retarded or who were under 18 at the time of the offense: protected from execution during the moratorium.
• Alabama’s legal system (courts, prosecutors, and prison administration): required to implement the new due process and fairness procedures during the moratorium.

Key Provisions

• Section 1(a): Three-year moratorium on the imposition or execution of the death penalty.
• Section 1(b): During the moratorium, implement procedures to ensure fair and impartial death penalty administration, including ABA defense guidelines, enhanced post-conviction relief, anti-discrimination measures in sentencing, and protections for mentally retarded or juvenile offenders.
• Section 2: The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after its passage and approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Death Penalty