Bill > S804

This bill upgrades burglary of a dwelling or other structure adapted for overnight accommodation to a second-degree crime, meaning it is a more serious offense than previously. Crucially, if a person was present in the dwelling at the time of the burglary, the offender will be subject to a mandatory period of parole ineligibility, meaning they must serve a significant portion of their sentence before being considered for release. This change is made by amending existing laws that define burglary and establish penalties, including the requirement for offenders convicted of certain serious crimes to serve at least 85% of their sentence before parole eligibility.