Teenage accomplices in crimes that led to murder could get less jail time under a bill that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee Monday on a 4-3 party-line vote.
Current law requires first-degree-murder charges and life in prison for juveniles who are accomplices to murder.
Democratic Sen. Suzanne Williams’ bill would allow them to receive second-degree-murder charges, which come with an eight- to 48-year sentence. Those who qualify also could go into youthful-offender programs.
Lawmakers try to move beyond controversies
House leadership tried to push past a series of controversies Monday by touting priorities for the rest of the session.
Speaker Andrew Romanoff and Minority Leader Mike May cited bills to expand preschool opportunities, support higher education with mineral-lease dollars, and allow people to generate their own power.
In the past month, Rep. Douglas Bruce, R-Colorado Springs, was censured for kicking a news photographer, Rep. Michael Garcia, D-Aurora, resigned amid sexual-harassment allegations, and Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, apologized for calling unwed teen parents “sluts.”
Romanoff and May said lawmakers are still working with the governor on what could end up being the boldest measures of the 2008 session. Among the big proposals are an auto-registration fee increase to generate money for roads and bridges, increases in severance taxes on the oil and gas industry, and a nearly billion-dollar plan to fund school buildings.
Successor to Garcia picked
Colorado Board of Education member Karen Middleton has been appointed to fill the seat vacated by former House Assistant Majority Leader Michael Garcia.
