SB33 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

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

Summary

SB33 proposes a three-year pause on imposing or carrying out the death penalty in Alabama, with new procedures to ensure fair and impartial death penalty cases.

What This Bill Does

During the three-year moratorium, the state would implement safeguards to ensure due process in capital cases. The safeguards include following the American Bar Association guidelines for defense counsel in death penalty cases, strengthening procedures for post-conviction relief, eliminating racial discrimination in capital sentencing, and ensuring that mentally disabled individuals or those who were under 18 at the time of the offense are not executed.

Who It Affects

• Defendants facing the death penalty and death-row inmates, who would experience a three-year pause and new due-process safeguards.
• Defense attorneys, prosecutors, and the state court system, who would implement ABA guidelines, post-conviction procedures, anti-discrimination measures, and protections for mentally disabled or juvenile offenders.

Key Provisions

• Imposes a three-year moratorium on the imposition or execution of the death penalty.
• During the moratorium, requires implementation of procedures to ensure fair and impartial administration of death penalty cases.
• Adopts the ABA Guidelines for the Appointment and Performance of Defense Counsel in Death Penalty Cases.
• Establishes due process procedures to preserve and enhance state post-conviction relief in death sentence cases.
• Creates procedures to eliminate discrimination in capital sentencing based on the race of the victim or the defendant.
• Implements due process procedures to prevent execution of mentally retarded individuals and those who were under 18 at the time of the offense.
• Effective date: starts on the first day of the third month after passage and approval by the Governor (or when it becomes law).

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