Bill > SB270

This bill abolishes the death penalty in Ohio by amending numerous sections of the Revised Code related to criminal offenses, sentencing, appeals, and public defense, and repealing sections that specifically address capital punishment procedures. Key changes include removing references to the death penalty in sentencing guidelines for aggravated murder and other offenses, eliminating provisions for capital case specifications in indictments, and removing requirements for specialized qualifications for attorneys in capital cases. The bill also makes technical amendments to various statutes, such as those concerning public defenders, jury selection, and evidence preservation, to align them with the abolition of capital punishment. The bill declares an emergency, stating its purpose is to preserve life by preventing executions of death sentences imposed before its effective date, and therefore takes immediate effect.