SB466 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Hank Sanders

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Habitual Offender Act, resentencing of certain offenders sentenced prior to Act 2000-759 amending act, panel of retired circuit judges to resentence, appointed, Sec. 13A-5-9.2 added

Summary

Creates a panel of five retired circuit judges to resentence certain Habitual Offender Act cases from before the 2000 amendments and to consider early parole for nonviolent offenders.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a five-member panel of retired circuit judges to review and potentially resentence defendants sentenced under the Habitual Felony Offender Act prior to the 2000 amendments. Allows retroactive consideration of early parole for nonviolent offenders based on Department of Corrections evaluations approved by the Board of Pardons and Paroles and submitted to the panel. Gives the panel authority to resentence inmates who received mandatory life or life without parole under the Habitual Felony Offender Act prior to the 2000 amendments if they would have been eligible for a non-mandatory sentence under the 2000 amendments. Sets up appointment, term, quorum, compensation, and other operating rules for the panel.

Who It Affects

• Nonviolent offenders who were convicted under the Habitual Felony Offender Act before the 2000 amendments and could be considered for early parole or resentencing.
• Incarcerated individuals who received mandatory life or life without parole sentences under the Habitual Felony Offender Act prior to the 2000-759 amendments and could be resentenced if eligible for a non-mandatory sentence under the 2000 amendments.

Key Provisions

• Adds Section 13A-5-9.2 to create a five-member panel of retired circuit judges to review resentencing under the Habitual Felony Offender Act for pre-2000 cases and to review early parole applications.
• Panel appointments: Governor appoints from nominees; five-year terms; presiding judge designated; quorum of two; oath and impeachment rules; detailed appointment process and vacancy rules.
• Panel authority: Review petitions for resentencing of nonviolent offenders; re-sentence inmates with pre-2000 mandatory life or life-without-parole sentences if eligible for non-mandatory sentences under the 2000 amendments; retroactive application of the Act’s provisions.
• Procedural and operational provisions: panel compensation, inquisition process if a member is incapacitated, and other governance details; act becomes effective immediately.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses