10/24/2014 Bill Text - AB-2501 Voluntary manslaughter.

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AB2501Voluntarymanslaughter. (20132014)
AssemblyBillNo.2501
CHAPTER684
AnacttoamendSection192ofthePenalCode,relatingtomanslaughter.
[ApprovedbyGovernorSeptember27,2014.FiledwithSecretaryofState
September27,2014.]
LEGISLATIVECOUNSELSDIGEST
AB2501,Bonilla.Voluntarymanslaughter.
Existing law defines voluntary manslaughter as the unlawful killing of a human being without malice upon a
suddenquarrelorheatofpassion.Thecrimeofvoluntarymanslaughterispunishablebyimprisonmentinthe
stateprisonfor3,6,or11years.
Thisbillwouldstatethatforpurposesofdeterminingsuddenquarrelorheatofpassion,theprovocationwas
notobjectivelyreasonableifitresultedfromthediscoveryof,knowledgeabout,orpotentialdisclosureofthe
victimsactualorperceivedgender,genderidentity,genderexpression,orsexualorientation,includingunder
circumstances in which the victim made an unwanted nonforcible romantic or sexual advance towards the
defendant, or if the defendant and victim dated or had a romantic or sexual relationship. By changing the
definitionofacrime,thebillwouldimposeastatemandatedlocalprogram.
TheCaliforniaConstitutionrequiresthestatetoreimburselocalagenciesandschooldistrictsforcertaincosts
mandatedbythestate.Statutoryprovisionsestablishproceduresformakingthatreimbursement.
Thisbillwouldprovidethatnoreimbursementisrequiredbythisactforaspecifiedreason.
Vote:majorityAppropriation:noFiscalCommittee:yesLocalProgram:yes
THEPEOPLEOFTHESTATEOFCALIFORNIADOENACTASFOLLOWS:
SECTION1.Section192ofthePenalCodeisamendedtoread:
192.Manslaughteristheunlawfulkillingofahumanbeingwithoutmalice.Itisofthreekinds:
(a)Voluntaryuponasuddenquarrelorheatofpassion.
(b) Involuntaryin the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony or in the commission of a
lawfulactwhichmightproducedeath,inanunlawfulmanner,orwithoutduecautionandcircumspection.This
subdivisionshallnotapplytoactscommittedinthedrivingofavehicle.
(c)Vehicular
(1)Exceptasprovidedinsubdivision(a)ofSection191.5,drivingavehicleinthecommissionofanunlawful
act,notamountingtoafelony,andwithgrossnegligenceordrivingavehicleinthecommissionofalawfulact
whichmightproducedeath,inanunlawfulmanner,andwithgrossnegligence.
10/24/2014 Bill Text - AB-2501 Voluntary manslaughter.
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(2) Driving a vehicle in the commission of an unlawful act, not amounting to a felony, but without gross
negligenceordrivingavehicleinthecommissionofalawfulactwhichmightproducedeath,inanunlawful
manner,butwithoutgrossnegligence.
(3)Drivingavehicleinconnectionwithaviolationofparagraph(3)ofsubdivision(a)ofSection550,where
thevehicularcollisionorvehicularaccidentwasknowinglycausedforfinancialgainandproximatelyresultedin
thedeathofanyperson.Thisparagraphdoesnotpreventprosecutionofadefendantforthecrimeofmurder.
(d)Thissectionshallnotbeconstruedasmakinganyhomicideinthedrivingofavehiclepunishablethatisnot
aproximateresultofthecommissionofanunlawfulact,notamountingtoafelony,orofthecommissionofa
lawfulactwhichmightproducedeath,inanunlawfulmanner.
(e)Grossnegligence,asusedinthissection,doesnotprohibitorprecludeachargeofmurderunderSection
188uponfactsexhibitingwantonnessandaconsciousdisregardforlifetosupportafindingofimpliedmalice,
oruponfactsshowingmalice,consistentwiththeholdingoftheCaliforniaSupremeCourtinPeoplev.Watson
(1981)30Cal.3d290.
(f) (1) For purposes of determining sudden quarrel or heat of passion pursuant to subdivision (a), the
provocationwasnotobjectivelyreasonableifitresultedfromthediscoveryof,knowledgeabout,orpotential
disclosureofthevictimsactualorperceivedgender,genderidentity,genderexpression,orsexualorientation,
includingundercircumstancesinwhichthevictimmadeanunwantednonforcibleromanticorsexualadvance
towardsthedefendant,orifthedefendantandvictimdatedorhadaromanticorsexualrelationship.Nothing
in this section shall preclude the jury from considering all relevant facts to determine whether the defendant
wasinfactprovokedforpurposesofestablishingsubjectiveprovocation.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, gender includes a persons gender identity and genderrelated
appearance and behavior regardless of whether that appearance or behavior is associated with the persons
genderasdeterminedatbirth.
SEC. 2. No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIIIB of the California
Constitutionbecausetheonlycoststhatmaybeincurredbyalocalagencyorschooldistrictwillbeincurred
becausethisactcreatesanewcrimeorinfraction,eliminatesacrimeorinfraction,orchangesthepenaltyfora
crimeorinfraction,withinthemeaningofSection17556oftheGovernmentCode,orchangesthedefinitionof
acrimewithinthemeaningofSection6ofArticleXIIIBoftheCaliforniaConstitution.