SF 2109: Relating to the penalties for defendants who aid and abet the commission of murder in the first degree

What it does

This bill relates to the penalties for defendants who aid and abet the commission of murder in the first degree. Currently, a person convicted of murder in the first degree serves a life sentence without the possibility of parole, except for a juvenile who commits such an offense. The bill provides that a defendant convicted of murder in the first degree, other than a juvenile, who did not directly commit the act of murder, shall be sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving a mandatory minimum term of confinement of years, if the finder of fact determines the defendant aided and abetted the commission of the offense.

Senate subcommittee · named January 31, 2022

• Sen. J. Taylor
• Sen. Kevin Kinney (D)
• Sen. David D. Rowley (R) · david.rowley@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 4 for, 5 against

For: American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa (ACLU-IA); Iowa Association for Justice; Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Iowa Conference of United Methodist Church

Against: Iowa Attorney General Dept. of Justice; Iowa County Attorneys Association; Iowa Organization for Victim Assistance; League of Women Voters of Iowa; Soaring Hearts

In plain words

1. January 25, 2022Filed in the Senate and sent to the Judiciary committee
2. January 31, 2022Senate subcommittee named: J. Taylor, Kinney and Rowley
3. February 3, 2022Subcommittee recommended against it