Prosecutors would have the option of putting

Prosecutors would have the option of putting murderers behind bars for life without parole, while counties would share with the state the cost of capital murder trials, under legislation House and Senate committees approved Thursday.
The House Committee on Judiciary Non-Civil unanimously approved a bill adding life without parole as one of three possible sentences convicted murderers can face, including the death penalty.
Under current law, a judge can sentence a convicted murderer to life without parole only if prosecutors seek the death penalty and a jury fails to reach agreement on a death sentence.
Hours later, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved changes to the state's public defender system under House Bill 1245, increasing to five days the deadline by which criminal defendants must have access to a lawyer and requiring counties to share the cost of death penalty cases after $150,000 of state expenses. (see also March 4)