SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2016 SESSION
HB 794 Death penalty; severe mental illness.
Introduced by: James A. "Jay" Leftwich | all patrons ... notes | add to my profiles
SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:
Death penalty; severe mental illness. Provides that a defendant in a capital case who had a severe mental illness, which is defined in the bill, at the time of the offense is not eligible for the death penalty. The bill establishes procedures for determining whether a defendant had a severe mental illness at the time of the offense and provides for the appointment of expert evaluators. When the defendant's severe mental illness is at issue, a determination will be made by the jury, or by the judge in a bench trial, as part of the sentencing proceeding, and the defendant bears the burden of proving his severe mental illness by a preponderance of the evidence.
FULL TEXT
HISTORY
- 01/12/16 House: Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/13/16 16101718D
- 01/12/16 House: Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- 02/12/16 House: Assigned Courts sub: Criminal Law
- 02/12/16 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table by voice vote
- 02/12/16 House: Continued to 2017 in Courts of Justice by voice vote