SB51 Summary

• Removes death as a potential punishment for capital offenses, making life imprisonment without parole the only available sentence for those convicted of capital crimes in Alabama.

• Amends Sections 13A-5-39, 13A-5-43, 13A-5-44, and 15-18-100 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to eliminate references to death sentences and related sentencing procedures.

• Repeals multiple sections of Alabama law governing capital sentencing hearings, jury selection procedures, and death penalty administration (Sections 13A-5-45 through 13A-5-53, 13A-5-55, 13A-5-59, and 15-18-80 through 15-18-86).

• Commutes all existing death sentences imposed prior to the act's effective date to life imprisonment without parole, applying retroactively to all capital sentences.

• Takes effect immediately upon passage and gubernatorial approval or upon otherwise becoming law.