KY HB588

Capital punishment is abolished in Kentucky as of the effective date; persons currently sentenced to death whose sentences have not been executed shall be resentenced to life imprisonment without benefit of probation or parole

Persons convicted of capital offenses may receive sentences ranging from 20-50 years, life imprisonment, life without parole until serving 25 years, or life without parole—but death is removed as a sentencing option

Petitioners previously sentenced to death are granted expanded access to post-conviction DNA testing, including exemptions from restrictions on touch DNA testing and the requirement of conviction after trial or Alford plea

Youthful offenders convicted of capital offenses may not be sentenced to life imprisonment without benefit of parole

The bill repeals 18 existing KRS sections governing execution procedures, death sentence review, intellectual disability/mental illness exemptions, and racial justice protections specific to capital punishment