SB134 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jimmy Holley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Homicide, criminally negligent homicide, person commits criminally negligent homicide if person operates motor vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while fatigued, Sec. 13A-6-4 am'd.

Summary

SB134 makes it criminally negligent homicide to cause a death by operating a motor vehicle, aircraft, or vessel while fatigued, with penalties set as a Class C felony.

What This Bill Does

It amends Section 13A-6-4 to add fatigue as a basis for criminally negligent homicide when death results from operating a vehicle, aircraft, or vessel. Fatigued is defined as having been without sleep for 24 consecutive hours. If the death occurs under these fatigued circumstances (or related violations), the offense is a Class C felony instead of the current Class A misdemeanor. The bill notes that it would not require new local funding or approval because it defines a new or amended crime, which is an exception to certain local-funding provisions.

Who It Affects

• Drivers or operators of motor vehicles, aircraft, or vessels who could be charged if they cause a death while fatigued.
• Families and communities of people who die as a result of fatigued operation.
• Law enforcement and prosecutors who would investigate and prosecute fatigue-related criminally negligent homicide cases.
• Local governments, which the bill notes would not face new local-funding requirements due to constitutional exceptions.

Key Provisions

• Adds fatigue-based criminally negligent homicide to the definition under Section 13A-6-4, making death caused by fatigue a crime.
• Fatigued is defined as no sleep for 24 consecutive hours.
• Class C felony applies in fatigue-related cases or when the driver/operator violates specific DUI-related statutes (32-5A-191 or 32-5A-191.3).
• The jury may consider existing statutes and ordinances regulating conduct when determining culpable negligence.
• Provides that the bill is exempt from local-funding requirements of Amendment 621 because it defines a new or amended crime.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and gubernatorial approval.

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