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Panel advances bill to raise felony class when contraband into penal facilities causes death
Summary
Representative Sparks's bill would increase penalty levels for introducing contraband (drugs, weapons, phones) into penal facilities when the introduction results in death; members questioned examples, but the measure moved to full judiciary.
Representative Sparks told the committee HB 16‑78 increases penalties by one level when contraband introduced into jails or prisons results in death, covering weapons, drugs and telecommunication devices. "House bill 16 78, basically is increasing the penalties by 1 level on introduction of contraband to our penal facilities, which results in the death of someone," he said.
Members sought concrete examples and whether officers or contractors would be covered; Sparks said the bill applies to all persons introducing contraband and noted recent fatal overdoses involving smuggled drugs. The committee voted to send the bill to judiciary (7 ayes, 0 no, 1 present not voting).
