AN ACT relating to judicial proceedings.
What changed between versions
The bill title and primary purpose changed from 'alternative sentences' for caretakers to 'judicial proceedings' for general sentencing.
Specific eligibility criteria requiring the defendant to be a 'caretaker of a dependent child' or a pregnant woman were removed.
Eligibility was expanded to include any person convicted of a crime who has not been sentenced to death.
Exclusions for violent felons and specific statutory prohibitions were removed, making the law more permissive.
The list of factors courts must consider was updated to include general risk assessments and the defendant's history rather than specific child-care factors.
Detailed definitions for 'caretaker of a dependent child' and 'dependent child' were removed as the specific program was eliminated.