Aaron Cohen Life Protection Act (HB 55) Summary

• Establishes "serious bodily injury" as a physical condition creating substantial risk of death, serious disfigurement, or protracted loss/impairment of bodily function; defines "vulnerable road users" to include pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists, and other non-motorized road users.

• Elevates leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony with mandatory minimum sentences of 7 years imprisonment; increases penalty for crashes resulting in death to 10 years (or 2 years if involved in driving under the influence, reduced from prior 10 years).

• Requires mandatory driver license revocation for minimum of 3 years for anyone convicted of leaving the scene of a crash involving injury, serious bodily injury, or death; mandates participation in victim impact panels or driver education courses on vulnerable road user rights.

• Revises criminal offense severity ranking chart to reflect new felony classifications for leaving the scene of crashes with serious bodily injury (second-degree felony).

• Effective date: July 1, 2014.