HB229 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Corey Harbison

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Criminal procedure, murder of firefighter or first responder in the line of duty makes a capital offense, Sec. 13A-5-40 am'd.

Summary

HB229 would make the murder of a firefighter or other first responder in the line of duty an enumerated capital offense in Alabama.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds a new enumerated capital offense for killing a first responder who is on duty or responding to an emergency. It defines who counts as a first responder (firefighters, EMS personnel, ambulance drivers/paramedics, and animal control officers). It keeps the existing capital-murder framework and indicates penalties could include the death penalty under those rules. It also notes potential local-funding implications but states the bill is exempt from local-funding requirements because it creates a new crime, and it becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Firefighters and other first responders (EMS personnel, ambulance drivers/paramedics, animal control officers) who are on duty or responding to emergencies, as the bill creates a new capital-offense status for crimes against them.
• Defendants accused of murdering a first responder in the line of duty, who could face capital punishment under the new offense.

Key Provisions

• Adds 'murder of a firefighter or first responder in the line of duty' as an enumerated capital offense in Section 13A-5-40, placed among existing listed capital offenses.
• Defines 'first responder' to include: a) EMS personnel certified by the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission; b) paid or volunteer firefighters; c) EMS personnel such as ambulance drivers or paramedics; d) animal control officers.
• Maintains the standard capital-murder framework (including potential lesser included offenses and complicity rules) but expands it to cover killings of first responders in the line of duty.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after the bill is passed and approved by the Governor.
• Notes regarding Amendment 621: the bill discusses potential local-funding implications but states it is exempt from those requirements because it creates a new crime.

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