Relating to parole eligibility for a person under the age of twenty-one convicted of a class “A” felony and making penalties applicable

This bill relates to parole eligibility for a person under the age of 21 convicted of a class “A” felony. Current law provides that a person under the age of 18 convicted of first degree murder, a class “A” felony, shall receive one of the following sentences: commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with no possibility of parole unless the governor commutes the sentence to a term of years; commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum term of confinement as determined by the court; or commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole. The bill increases the age limit from 18 years to 21 years. Current law provides that a defendant convicted of a class “A” felony, other than murder in the first degree, and who was under the age of 18 at the time the offense was committed shall receive one of the following sentences: commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole after serving a minimum term of confinement as determined by the court; or commitment to the department of corrections for the rest of the defendant’s life with the possibility of parole. The bill increases the age limit from 18 years to 21 years.