The Senate rejected a bill that would have allowed...

The Senate rejected a bill that would have allowed juries to sentence a convicted murderer to life without the possibility of parole. After little discussion, the bill failed to receive enough votes for it to come to the floor for a full debate. Current law allows a jury in a capital offense trial to sentence an offender to death or to life in prison. With a life sentence now, a convicted murderer can become eligible for parole in 40 years. The bill would have given juries all 3 options for sentencing a convicted murderer. "Like many of you I support the death penalty," said bill sponsor Eddie Lucio, D-Brownsville. "I also believe giving Texas juries all of the available tools to make these important issues." During the 2001 legislative session, the Senate approved a bill that would have allowed juries to sentence a murderer to life without parole but the bill died in the House.