Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 2 (2nd C.S.)	Senate Author:  Huffman et al.
Effective:  7-22-13	House Sponsor:  Kolkhorst et al.

            Previous law required an individual found guilty of a capital felony in a case in which the state does not seek the death penalty to be punished by life imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice if the individual's case was transferred from juvenile court to the appropriate district court or criminal district court for criminal proceedings. Senate Bill 2 amends the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to instead require life imprisonment if the individual committed the offense when younger than 18 years of age. The bill clarifies that the punishment of life imprisonment without parole for a capital felony in such a case applies if the individual committed the offense when 18 years of age or older. The bill's provisions do not affect a final conviction that exists on the bill's effective date.