The bill, known as the Daryl and Jeanna Speegle and Maggie and Christie Lowe Act, amends Sections 13A-6-2 and 13A-6-3 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to establish new criteria for the crimes of murder and manslaughter in relation to driving under the influence (DUI). Specifically, it introduces new legal language stating that a person commits murder if they operate a motor vehicle while under the influence, have prior DUI convictions, and have a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15% or higher, resulting in the death of another person. Additionally, the bill specifies that a person commits manslaughter if they operate a vehicle or vessel in violation of DUI laws and cause the death of another person.

The bill also includes several deletions and insertions to clarify the definitions of murder and manslaughter. For instance, it replaces the phrase "which creates a grave risk of death" with "that creates a grave risk of death" in the murder definition. Furthermore, it adds a new subsection (d) to the murder statute, stipulating that if a defendant is sentenced to life for a capital offense, they must serve a minimum of 30 years before being considered for parole. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2024, and is exempt from certain financial requirements due to its nature of defining new crimes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-6-2
Engrossed: 13A-6-3, 13A-6-2