SB294 Summary

• Eliminates life without parole as a sentencing option for defendants under 18 years of age at time of offense, replacing it with life imprisonment with parole eligibility after 30 years for capital murder and 25 years for murder in the first degree.

• Prohibits death penalty sentences for defendants under 18 years of age and requires courts to conduct comprehensive mental health evaluations by licensed adolescent mental health professionals before minors enter the Department of Correction.

• Establishes parole eligibility timelines for minors: 20 years minimum for non-homicide offenses, 25 years for murder in the first degree, and 30 years for capital murder, with retroactive application to minors currently serving sentences.

• Requires the Parole Board to consider diminished culpability, hallmark features of youth, maturity during incarceration, family circumstances, and participation in rehabilitative programs when reviewing parole eligibility for minors.

• Declares an emergency clause citing compliance with U.S. Supreme Court decisions in Miller v. Alabama and Montgomery v. Louisiana, with effective date of March 20, 2017.