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SF0096 • 2021

Homicide amendments.

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating new offenses for first and second degree murder; providing a definition; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date.

Children Crime
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Senator Hutchings
Last action
2021-04-06
Official status
enrolled
Effective date
7/1/2021

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide information on clarifying sentencing rules for the murder of a pregnant woman, only for enhancements in certain cases.

Amendments to Homicide Laws

This law creates new crimes for murder of an unborn child and sets penalties similar to those for first or second degree murder.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a new crime called 'murder in the first degree of an unborn child' with severe punishments.
  • Defines 'unborn child' as any human being at any stage of development carried in a womb.
  • Requires that to be guilty of this crime, someone must commit murder or attempted murder against a pregnant woman and cause her unborn child's death.
  • Sets penalties for the new crimes similar to those for first or second degree murder.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who commit violent crimes against pregnant women in Wyoming.
  • Courts and law enforcement agencies in Wyoming.

Terms To Know

Unborn child
A human being at any stage of development carried in a womb.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law only applies to cases where an unborn child dies as a result of violence against its mother.
  • It does not change existing laws about abortion or other medical procedures.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SF0096H2001

2nd reading • Representative Zwonitzer

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes specific wording and adds a new definition for 'unborn child' in the bill.

  • Replaces 'definitions' with 'a definition'.
  • Changes 'new paragraphs' to 'a new paragraph'.
  • Modifies existing text by removing certain references and renumbering them correctly.
  • Adds a new definition for 'unborn child', which means any human being at any stage of development while in the womb.
  • The amendment's impact on other parts of the bill or related laws is not explained here.
SF0096H2002

2nd reading • Representative Olsen

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds new penalties and definitions related to murder of an unborn child and enhances sentencing for certain crimes committed against pregnant women.

  • Adds a new section defining first-degree murder of an unborn child under specific circumstances, such as during the commission or attempt of sexual assault or other violent crimes.
  • Modifies the definition of second-degree murder of an unborn child to remove premeditation requirement and specifies the minimum sentence for this offense.
  • Includes provisions that increase sentencing for defendants convicted of certain offenses if they knew their victim was pregnant at the time of the crime.
  • The amendment text does not provide full details on all aspects, such as specific penalties or legal procedures related to these new definitions and enhancements.
SF0096H3001

3rd reading • Representative Romero-Martinez

Corrected, Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment removes provisions related to the death penalty and modifies laws concerning murder sentencing, bail conditions, jury challenges, and DNA testing.

  • Removes procedures related to the imposition of the death penalty and eliminates specific sections dealing with it.
  • Modifies sentences for first-degree murder by allowing life imprisonment without parole or life imprisonment according to law, excluding the possibility of the death penalty for those under 18 at the time of the crime.
  • Updates definitions and conditions for bail, jury challenges, and DNA testing in criminal cases.
  • The amendment text is extensive and includes many specific legal changes that are not fully explained here due to complexity and length.
SF0096HS001

Standing Committee • House Judiciary Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment adds a new sentencing rule that increases penalties for murder convictions if the victim was pregnant and the defendant knew about it.

  • Adds a new section (6-2-109) to the bill, which enhances sentences for defendants convicted of certain offenses under W.S. 6-2-104, 6-2-105, or 6-2-108 if it is proven that the victim was pregnant and the defendant knew about it.
  • Requires a minimum sentence of forty years in prison or life imprisonment for defendants convicted under W.S. 6-2-104(a) if the conditions mentioned above are met.
  • The exact penalties for offenses other than those specified under W.S. 6-2-104(a) are not detailed in this amendment text.
  • It is unclear how the jury will determine whether the defendant knew about the victim's pregnancy.
SF0096SW001

Committee of the Whole • Senator Hutchings

Corrected, Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment changes the sentencing provision for manslaughter and drug-induced homicide by setting a maximum penalty of twenty years in prison and removing certain existing provisions.

  • Adds new penalties for manslaughter and drug-induced homicide, making both felonies punishable by up to twenty years in prison.
  • Removes specific sections related to these crimes that were previously mentioned.
  • The amendment text does not provide details on what is being repealed or how it affects existing laws beyond the specified changes.

Bill History

  1. 2021-04-06 LSO

    Assigned Chapter Number 116

  2. 2021-04-06 Governor

    Governor Signed SEA No. 0050

  3. 2021-04-02 House

    H Speaker Signed SEA No. 0050

  4. 2021-04-02 Senate

    S President Signed SEA No. 0050

  5. 2021-04-01 LSO

    Assigned Number SEA No. 0050

  6. 2021-04-01 Senate

    S Concur:Passed 27-3-0-0-0

  7. 2021-04-01 Senate

    S Received for Concurrence

  8. 2021-03-31 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 50-9-1-0-0

  9. 2021-03-30 House

    H 3rd Reading:Laid Back

  10. 2021-03-29 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  11. 2021-03-26 House

    H COW:Passed

  12. 2021-03-19 House

    H Placed on General File

  13. 2021-03-19 House

    H01 - Judiciary:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 7-2-0-0-0

  14. 2021-03-12 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H01 - Judiciary

  15. 2021-03-11 House

    H Received for Introduction

  16. 2021-03-11 Senate

    S 3rd Reading:Passed 26-4-0-0-0

  17. 2021-03-10 Senate

    S 2nd Reading:Passed

  18. 2021-03-09 Senate

    S COW:Passed

  19. 2021-03-04 Senate

    S Placed on General File

  20. 2021-03-04 Senate

    S01 - Judiciary:Recommend Do Pass 4-1-0-0-0

  21. 2021-03-01 Senate

    S Introduced and Referred to S01 - Judiciary

  22. 2021-02-17 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  23. 2021-02-08 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 21LSO-0396
Bill No.:

SF0096

Effective:

7/1/2021 12:00:00 AM

LSO No.:

21LSO-0396

Enrolled Act No.:

SEA No. 0050

Chapter No.:

116

Prime Sponsor:

Hutchings

Catch Title:

Homicide amendments.

Subject:

Murder of an unborn child.

Summary/Major Elements:

This bill creates two (2) new crimes: murder in the first degree of an unborn child and murder in the second degree of an unborn child.

The bill defines "unborn child" as a member of the species homo sapiens, at any state of development, who is carried in a womb.

The crime of murder of an unborn child (in the first or second degree) requires that a person commit the crime of murder or attempted murder (in the first or second degree respectively) against the mother of the child, and that the unborn child dies as a result of the person's actions.

Punishment for the crime of first or second degree murder of an unborn child is consistent with the penalty imposed for murder in the first or second degree.

The bill amends the sentencing enhancement for second degree murder of a pregnant woman to clarify it is only applicable to the murder of the pregnant woman.
The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
21LSO-0396

ORIGINAL Senate

ENGROSSED
File No
.
SF0096

ENROLLED ACT NO. 50,

SENATE

SIXTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2021 General Session

AN ACT relating to crimes and offenses; creating new offenses for first and second degree murder; providing a definition; providing penalties; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 6
‑
1
‑
104(a) by creating a new paragraph (xviii) and by renumbering (xviii) as (xix), 6
‑
2
‑
101 by creating a new subsection (d), 6
‑
2
‑
104 and 6
‑
2
‑
109 are amended to read:

6
‑
1
‑
104.

Definitions.

(a)

As used in this act, unless otherwise defined:

(xviii)

"Unborn child" means a member of the species homo sapiens, at any state of development, who is carried in a womb;

(xviii)
(xix)

"This act" means title 6 of the Wyoming statutes.

6
‑
2
‑
101.

Murder in the first degree; penalty.

(d)

A person is guilty of murder in the first degree of an unborn child, punishable as provided for other convictions of murder in the first degree, if:

(i)

The person purposely and with premeditated malice, or in the perpetration of, or attempt to perpetrate, any sexual assault, sexual abuse of a minor, arson, robbery, burglary, escape, resisting arrest, kidnapping or abuse of a child under the age of sixteen (16) years, kills or attempts to kill any human being;

(ii)

The human being was pregnant with an unborn child; and

(iii)

The unborn child dies as a result of the person's actions.

6
‑
2
‑
104.

Murder in the second degree; penalty.

(a)

Except as provided in W.S. 6
‑
2
‑
109, whoever purposely and maliciously, but without premeditation, kills any human being is guilty of murder in the second degree, and shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary for any term not less than twenty (20) years, or during life.

(b)

A person is guilty of murder in the second degree of an unborn child if:

(i)

The person purposely and maliciously, but without premeditation, kills or attempts to kill any human being;

(ii)

The human being was pregnant with an unborn child; and

(iii)

The unborn child dies as a result of the person's actions.

(c)

A person guilty of murder in the second degree of an unborn child shall be imprisoned in the penitentiary for any term not less than twenty (20) years, or during life.

6
‑
2
‑
109.

Sentencing enhancement for the homicide of a pregnant woman.

(a)

Upon sentencing of a defendant who is convicted of an offense pursuant to W.S.
6
‑
2
‑
104
6
‑
2
‑
104(a)
, 6
‑
2
‑
105 or 6
‑
2
‑
108, if the jury has found that the victim was pregnant at the time of the commission of the offense and that the defendant knew that the victim was pregnant at the time of the commission of the offense, the court shall impose a sentence as follows:

(i)

For a conviction of W.S.
6
‑
2
‑
104
6
‑
2
‑
104(a)
, imprisonment in the penitentiary for any term not less than forty (40) years, or during life; or

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2021
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the Senate.

Chief Clerk

1