STATEMENT TO

[Second Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 1836

with Assembly Floor Amendments

(Proposed By Assemblywoman HECK)

ADOPTED: JUNE 17, 1996

      The purpose of this Assembly Amendment to Assembly Bill, No.1836 (2R) is to clarify the parole eligibility of a person found guilty of murdering a law enforcement officer.

      Under the provisions of this amendment, any person who is found guilty of murdering a law enforcement officer, but who is sentenced to life imprisonment rather than the death penalty, would never be eligible for parole.

      In the bill's present form, such a criminal could be eligible for parole when two criteria are met: (1) the murderer has served at least 35 years in prison and (2) is 70 years of age or older.