The Murder of the Elderly and Disabled People

This bill adds "cruelty to people with disabilities" to the list of crimes that, when done while killing someone, can lead to a first or second degree murder charge. 

• First-degree murder charge: someone is accused of planning and intentionally killing another person. It is the most serious type of murder charge.

• Second-degree murder charge: someone killed another person, but it was not planned ahead of time. It is still very serious, but not as serious as first-degree murder.

Right now, the law says that first degree murder happens when someone is really trying to kill or really hurt someone else, and is involved in committing certain crimes. This bill adds "cruelty to people with disabilities" to that list of crimes.  

Right now, second degree murder is defined as killing someone while doing certain crimes, no matter why the person did it. This bill also adds "cruelty to people with disabilities" to the list of crimes for second degree murder.