AZ HB2440

Amends Arizona law on capital sentencing by adding a new aggravating circumstance: the defendant committed the offense in connection with a gang initiation killing (Section F.15).

Maintains existing requirements that prosecutors must prove aggravating circumstances beyond a reasonable doubt during the aggravation phase of capital sentencing proceedings.

Clarifies that unborn children are treated like minors under twelve years of age for purposes of determining whether a conviction of dangerous crimes against children constitutes a serious offense.

Requires triers of fact to impose a sentence of death if one or more aggravating circumstances are found and no mitigating circumstances are sufficiently substantial to call for leniency.