6052 AMS OBAN S5263.1
SB 6052 - S AMD 615
By Senator O'Ban
RULED BEYOND SCOPE 02/14/2018
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1.  RCW 10.95.040 and 1981 c 138 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) If a person is charged with aggravated first degree murder as defined by RCW 10.95.020 and the victim was a law enforcement officer as provided in RCW 10.95.020(1), the prosecuting attorney shall file written notice of a special sentencing proceeding to determine whether or not the death penalty should be imposed when there is reason to believe that there are not sufficient mitigating circumstances to merit leniency.
(2) The notice of special sentencing proceeding shall be filed and served on the defendant or the defendant's attorney within thirty days after the defendant's arraignment upon the charge of aggravated first degree murder unless the court, for good cause shown, extends or reopens the period for filing and service of the notice. Except with the consent of the prosecuting attorney, during the period in which the prosecuting attorney may file the notice of special sentencing proceeding, the defendant may not tender a plea of guilty to the charge of aggravated first degree murder nor may the court accept a plea of guilty to the charge of aggravated first degree murder or any lesser included offense.
(3) If a notice of special sentencing proceeding is not filed and served as provided in this section, the prosecuting attorney may not request the death penalty.
Sec. 2.  RCW 10.95.050 and 1981 c 138 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) If a defendant is adjudicated guilty of aggravated first degree murder and the victim was a law enforcement officer as provided in RCW 10.95.020(1), whether by acceptance of a plea of guilty, by verdict of a jury, or by decision of the trial court sitting without a jury, a special sentencing proceeding shall be held if a notice of special sentencing proceeding was filed and served as provided by RCW 10.95.040. No sort of plea, admission, or agreement may abrogate the requirement that a special sentencing proceeding be held.
(2) A jury shall decide the matters presented in the special sentencing proceeding unless a jury is waived in the discretion of the court and with the consent of the defendant and the prosecuting attorney.
(3) If the defendant's guilt was determined by a jury verdict, the trial court shall reconvene the same jury to hear the special sentencing proceeding. The proceeding shall commence as soon as practicable after completion of the trial at which the defendant's guilt was determined. If, however, unforeseen circumstances make it impracticable to reconvene the same jury to hear the special sentencing proceeding, the trial court may dismiss that jury and convene a jury pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.
(4) If the defendant's guilt was determined by plea of guilty or by decision of the trial court sitting without a jury, or if a retrial of the special sentencing proceeding is necessary for any reason including but not limited to a mistrial in a previous special sentencing proceeding or as a consequence of a remand from an appellate court, the trial court shall impanel a jury of twelve persons plus whatever alternate jurors the trial court deems necessary. The defense and prosecution shall each be allowed to peremptorily challenge twelve jurors. If there is more than one defendant, each defendant shall be allowed an additional peremptory challenge and the prosecution shall be allowed a like number of additional challenges. If alternate jurors are selected, the defense and prosecution shall each be allowed one peremptory challenge for each alternate juror to be selected and if there is more than one defendant each defendant shall be allowed an additional peremptory challenge for each alternate juror to be selected and the prosecution shall be allowed a like number of additional challenges."
SB 6052 - S AMD 615
By Senator O'Ban
RULED BEYOND SCOPE 02/14/2018
On page 1, line 4 of the title, after "murder" strike the remainder of the title and insert "unless the victim was a law enforcement officer; amending RCW 10.95.040 and 10.95.050; and prescribing penalties."
EFFECT: Retains the death penalty as an option for aggravated first degree murder only when the victim is a law enforcement officer.
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