This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding sentencing for individuals convicted of a class 2 felony for child sex trafficking. Under the current law, a person convicted of this felony is sentenced to natural life imprisonment without the possibility of release. The bill updates this by specifying that such a sentence applies only if the offender was at least 18 years old at the time of the offense. This change is intended to ensure that juveniles are not subjected to life sentences under the same conditions as adults.

Additionally, the bill includes a legislative intent clause emphasizing the preservation of juvenile rights under the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It also stipulates that the amendments to section 13-720 will only take effect if approved by at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the legislature. Overall, the bill aims to refine the sentencing framework for child sex trafficking offenses while safeguarding the rights of younger defendants.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-720
House Engrossed Version: 13-720
Chaptered Version: 13-720