Sentencing - As introduced, authorizes the death penalty as a punishment for rape of a child, aggravated rape of a child, or especially aggravated rape of a child. - Amends TCA Title 39; Title 40 and Chapter 1062 of the Public Acts of 2022.

This Tennessee bill expands the death penalty to include specific rape offenses against children, making it a possible punishment for adults convicted of raping a child, aggravated rape of a child, or especially aggravated rape of a child. The law distinguishes between adult and juvenile offenders, mandating that adult defendants receive either the death penalty, life imprisonment without parole, or life imprisonment, while juvenile offenders face different sentencing ranges. Additionally, the legislation broadens the list of crimes that qualify for the death penalty by adding these child rape offenses to the existing list of capital crimes, which previously included first-degree murder and grave torture. The bill also clarifies that individuals with intellectual disabilities remain ineligible for the death penalty regardless of the specific offense committed. These changes take effect on July 1, 2024, and apply to cases tried after that date.