If this bill were to become law, it would amend current statutes by expanding the scope of legal justification for the use of physical force or deadly physical force. Specifically, it would clarify that justification is a defense applicable to any criminal offense, rather than being limited to only those offenses listed in the criminal code. This change is reflected in the insertion of language that specifies justification as a defense in "any prosecution for a criminal offense" instead of just "an offense pursuant to this title."

Additionally, the bill would make technical changes to the existing language, including the replacement of the term "defined" with "prescribed" in the context of justification. The current statute's reference to "an offense" would be updated to "a criminal offense," thereby broadening the applicability of the justification defense. Overall, these updates aim to provide clearer legal protections for individuals who use physical force in self-defense or defense of others.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-401
House Engrossed Version: 13-401