BILL NUMBER: S292
SPONSOR: RHOADS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the penal law, in relation to a required sentence of
life imprisonment without parole for the murder of a child
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To ensure that anyone who commits first or second degree murder against
a child receives a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the
possibility of parole.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends subdivision 3 of section 70 of the penal law as
amended by chapter 107 of 2006 to require a sentence of life in prison
for anyone who commits a first or second-degree murder of a child.
Section 2: Amends subdivision 5 of section 70 of the penal law to make
needed conforming changes
Section 3: Sets forth the effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill seeks to ensure that no family or community has to relive the
pain of a brutal murder for years each and every time the killer comes
up for parole. Those who want only murder children should never see the
light of day again. This bill ensures that people who commit crimes such
as this one never receive parole. It is long past time we put the needs
of victims and their families ahead of the needs of the perpetrators.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

Statutes affected:
S292: 70.00 penal law, 70.00(3) penal law, 70.00(5) penal law