Senate Bill 94 was passed this morning, making it the first bill to complete the legislative process for the 2020 session.
This bill allows for electronic absentee voting for disabled persons and certain overseas military personnel. This bill provides that a voter with a physical disability may electronically apply to vote absentee and clarifies that a voter with a physical disability can receive assistance to vote in certain circumstances. It also establishes requirements and deadlines for transmission, submission, and acceptance of electronic absentee ballots.
House Bills 4002 and 4393 were also passed today. Both bills define the terms for specific felonies.
House Bill 4002 creates a felony crime of delivering a controlled or counterfeit controlled substance for others that causes death. The bill establishes that a person who knowingly and willfully delivers a substance that causes death is guilty of a felony and shall be confined in a state correctional facility for a sentence between three and 15 years.
The bill also establishes that any person who negligently delivers a controlled substance with reckless disregard that causes death shall be confined in a correctional facility between one and three years.
House Bill 4393 creates a felony crime of asphyxiation and suffocation. This defines terms such as “bodily injury,” “strangle,” “suffocate,” and “asphyxiate.” Under the bill, any person who strangles, suffocates or asphyxiates a person without consent and causes bodily injury is guilty of a felony. Upon conviction, a person guilty of these crimes can be fined up to $2,500 or placed in a correctional facility between one and five years. Supporters of the bill said this legislation is necessary to delineate the difference between strangulation and other assault crimes.
House Bills 4011, 4129, 4146, 4149, 4166 and 4411 were advanced to third reading.
House Bills 2497, 4089, 4365 and 4480 were advanced to second reading.
Five resolutions were introduced today. House Bills 4523- 4542 were introduced today.
The House is adjourned until 11 a.m. Monday.
