The proposed bill amends sections of the Arizona Revised Statutes related to homicide, specifically addressing sentencing for first-degree murder. Under current law, individuals convicted of first-degree murder and aged eighteen or older at the time of the offense are sentenced to death or natural life imprisonment. The new bill removes specific references to certain paragraphs of the law regarding sentencing for first-degree murder, streamlining the process by stating that if the death penalty is not sought, the court must impose a sentence of natural life for those aged eighteen or older. For defendants under eighteen, the court will decide between life or natural life sentences.

Additionally, the bill modifies the language surrounding the circumstances under which a homicide occurs, particularly in relation to the death of a law enforcement officer. The new language clarifies that causing the death of a law enforcement officer in the line of duty requires no specific mental state beyond that necessary for the commission of the underlying felony. This change aims to simplify the legal framework surrounding homicide cases and ensure that the penalties reflect the severity of the crime.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-751, 13-752, 13-1105, 13-1101, 13-303, 13-701