HB 11

HB11 INTRODUCED
1 HB11
2 DGSFCHH-1
3 By Representative Pettus
4 RFD: Judiciary
5 First Read: 13-Jan-26
6 PFD: 25-Jun-25
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 DGSFCHH-1 05/14/2025 OW (L)cr 2025-1940
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4 SYNOPSIS:
5Under existing law, an individual charged with a
6crime that is committed while he or she is under 19
7years of age may be tried as a youthful offender.
8This bill would prohibit a judge from granting
9youthful offender status to an individual who is 16
10years of age or older and charged with capital murder
11or murder.
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14A BILL
15TO BE ENTITLED
16AN ACT
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18Relating to criminal procedure; to amend Section
19 15-19-1, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit a judge from
20 granting youthful offender status to an individual who is 16
21 years of age or older and charged with capital murder or
22 murder.
23 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
24Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as
25 Jolee's Law.
26Section 2. Section 15-19-1, Code of Alabama 1975, is
27 amended to read as follows:
28"§15-19-1
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  HB11 INTRODUCED
29(a) Except as provided in subsection (c), an individual
30 A person charged with a crime which that was committed in his
31 or her minority prior to the individual reaching 21 years of
32 age but was not disposed of in juvenile court and which that
33 involves moral turpitude or is subject to a sentence of
34 commitment for one year or more shall be, and, if charged with
35 a lesser crime may be, investigated and examined by the court.
36 to The court shall determine whether he or she should be tried
37 as a youthful offender, provided he or she consents to such
38 the examination and to trial without a jury where trial by
39 jury would otherwise be available to the defendant. If the
40 defendant consents and the court so decides, no further action
41 shall be taken on the indictment or information unless
42 otherwise ordered by the court as provided in subsection (b).
43(b) After such the investigation and examination, the
44 court, in its discretion, may direct order either of the
45 following:
46(1) That that the defendant be arraigned as a youthful
47 offender, and that no further action shall be taken on the
48 indictment or information; or the court may decide.
49(2) That that the defendant shall not be arraigned as a
50 youthful offender, whereupon and that the indictment or
51 information shall be deemed filed.
52(c) An individual who has attained 16 years of age or
53 older at the time of the offense and who is charged with
54 capital murder pursuant to Section 13A-5-40 or murder pursuant
55 to Section 13A-6-2(a)(1) may not be tried as a youthful
56 offender pursuant to subsection (a), but shall be charged,
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57 arrested, and tried as an adult. This shall not bar an
58 individual from being eligible for application for youthful
59 offender status if the initial charge of capital murder
60 pursuant to Section 13A-5-40 or murder pursuant to Section
61 13A-6-2(a)(1) is reduced to a lesser charge.
62(c)(d)(1) In addition to the provisions of subsections
63 (a) and (b), when When the defendant is charged with a crime
64 that contains as an element of the crime or an allegation
65 related to the charge that the defendant intentionally
66 inflicted serious physical injury or intentionally killed the
67 victim in the commission of the crime, prior to conducting a
68 hearing or examination on whether the defendant will be
69 arraigned as a youthful offender, the victim shall receive
70 notice 10 days prior to the hearing pursuant to the provisions
71 of the Crime Victims' Rights Act, 18 U.S.C. § 3771.
72(2) In addition, the The court shall conduct an
73 evidentiary hearing on the allegations of the crime and the
74 extent of injuries of the victim and shall consider the
75 evidence prior to determining youthful offender status.
76(3) The failure to provide a right, privilege, or
77 notice to a victim under this subsection shall not be grounds
78 for the defendant or victim to seek to have the disposition of
79 the case set aside."
80Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
81 1, 2026.
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