SB34 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Death penalty, persons under certain age exempt

Summary

This bill would ban the death penalty for anyone who was under 18 when they committed a capital offense.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill would prevent the death penalty from being imposed on defendants who were under 18 at the time of the capital offense. It would apply to all capital offenses in Alabama and aligns state law with the Supreme Court’s ruling. The change would take effect immediately after passage and the governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• Persons under 18 at the time of the capital offense, who would no longer be eligible for the death penalty
• The Alabama criminal justice system (courts and prosecutors) handling capital cases, which would issue life imprisonment or other punishments instead of a death sentence

Key Provisions

• Section 2: The death penalty shall not be imposed upon any person who was less than 18 years of age at the time of the commission of the capital offense.
• Section 3: This act shall become effective immediately upon its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming 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

Crimes and Offenses