Bill > HB72

This bill proposes to abolish the death penalty in Ohio and make several related changes to state law. Here's a summary of the key provisions: This bill eliminates the death penalty as a sentencing option for criminal offenses in Ohio. Specifically, for offenders previously sentenced to death, the bill requires that their sentences be converted to life imprisonment without parole. Any existing death sentences will be changed to life imprisonment, and offenders retain their existing rights to appeals and post-conviction remedies. The bill also makes several complementary changes to state law, including: 1. Prohibiting public funding for lethal injection drugs used in nontherapeutic abortions, assisted suicide, or executions. 2. Removing references to the death penalty from various sections of the Ohio Revised Code. 3. Modifying jury selection procedures by removing special provisions related to capital cases. 4. Eliminating provisions specific to capital case prosecutions and post-conviction proceedings. 5. Ensuring that records and reports related to previously existing capital cases will continue to be maintained and processed under existing rules until those cases are fully resolved. The bill includes provisions to preserve the legal status of existing death penalty cases, meaning that offenders sentenced to death before the bill's effective date will not have their fundamental legal rights altered. Attorneys appointed to represent these defendants in post-conviction proceedings will still be required to meet the same certification standards that existed prior to the bill. The legislation reflects a broader movement to eliminate capital punishment, focusing on preserving life imprisonment as the most severe criminal sentence while maintaining the integrity of existing legal processes.

Justice

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb72