SB263 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Cam Ward

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Crimes and offenses, J.K. Elrod Act, murder, knowingly selling or distributing a controlled substance that causes the death of another, exemption for physicians and pharmacists

Summary

SB 263 creates a murder charge for knowingly distributing a controlled substance that causes death, with a physician/pharmacist exemption and harsher penalties for certain prior drug offenders, plus a local-funds exemption.

What This Bill Does

It makes it murder if someone knowingly distributes a controlled substance and that substance causes the death of the recipient or another person. Licensed physicians and pharmacists who provide controlled substances as part of a legal prescription are exempt from this murder charge. Violation carries a Class B felony, with a minimum 20-year sentence if the offender has a prior felony drug conviction, and the bill clarifies a local-funds exemption under Amendment 621 because it creates a new crime.

Who It Affects

• People who knowingly distribute a controlled substance and cause a death; they could be charged with murder and face a Class B felony, with at least 20 years in prison if they have prior felony drug convictions.
• Licensed physicians and licensed pharmacists who provide controlled substances as part of a legal prescription are exempt from the murder charge; the bill also affects how local funding rules apply by exempting it from certain local-funds requirements.

Key Provisions

• Defines 'provides' as selling, furnishing, giving away, delivering, or distributing a controlled substance.
• Creates the crime of murder when a person knowingly provides a controlled substance to another person and that substance causes death, with an exemption for licensed physicians or pharmacists acting under a legal prescription.
• Punishment for violation is a Class B felony, with a minimum sentence of 20 years if the offender has a prior felony drug offense.
• States the bill is exempt from certain local-government funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates a new crime or amends an existing one.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor's 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