AB 1459: Murder: peace officers.

Under existing law, a murder perpetrated by specified means or under certain circumstances, including a killing that is willful, deliberate, and premeditated, is defined as murder of the first degree. All other kinds of murder are of the 2nd degree. Under existing law, a person convicted of first degree murder is subject to a punishment of death, life in prison without the possibility of parole, or confinement in the state prison for a term of 25 years to life. Under existing law, the 2nd degree murder of a peace officer, as specified, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of 25 years to life, and the 2nd degree murder of a peace officer, if specified facts are charged and found true, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of life without the possibility of parole.

This bill would state the findings and declarations of the Legislature that the unlawful killing of a peace officer, as defined, that is deliberate, willful, and premeditated is murder of the first degree for purposes of the gravity of the offense and the support of the survivors. The bill would identify these findings as declaratory of existing law.