Bills › 88th General Assembly
Relating to operating-while-intoxicated offenses causing death or serious injury, and providing penalties
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 22, 2019
- Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 11, 2020
- Stopped: House committeeDied when the General Assembly ended
- Next: Passes the House
- Next: Senate committee
- Next: Passes the Senate
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2020 session adjourned on June 14, 2020, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill increases criminal penalties for operating-while-intoxicated (OWI) offenses causing death or serious injury. Under current law, unintentionally causing the death of another person by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated is a class “B” felony. Unless the maximum sentence for a felony is prescribed by statute, a class “B” felony is punishable by imprisonment for no more than 25 years. The bill provides the maximum sentence for unintentionally causing the death of another person by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated is imprisonment not to exceed 50 years.
Read the full explanation
Under current law, unintentionally causing serious injury by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated is a class “D” felony. A class “D” felony is punishable by imprisonment for no more than five years and a fine of at least $750 but not more than $7,500. The bill provides that unintentionally causing serious injury by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated is a class “C” felony. A class “C” felony is punishable by imprisonment for no more than 10 years and a fine of at least $1,000 but not more than $10,000.1 would prohibit a person convicted under the bill of unintentionally causing serious injury by operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated from being admitted to bail during the appeal process.3).12).
House subcommittee
Named February 11, 2020. On February 17, 2020 it recommended passage.
Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part