TO:	Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB60 by Lucio (Relating to the punishment for a capital offense.), As Introduced

The bill would amend the Penal Code by adding life without parole as a sentencing option for offenders convicted of capital murder.
 
Under current law and policy, and under the proposed bill, the average time served in prison by persons likely to be affected by the provisions of this bill is greater than five years.  Therefore, no additional impact on demands on the adult corrections agencies are anticipated during the first five years following passage of this bill.
 
This analysis assumes that the bill would take effect September 1, 2005.