(1) It is the expressed intention of the general assembly that there be no hiatus in the imposition of the death penalty as a sentence for the commission of a class 1 felony in the state of Colorado as a result of the holding of the United States supreme court in Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584 (2002). Toward that end, the provisions of section 16-11-103, C.R.S., as it existed prior to the passage of Senate Bill 95-54, enacted at the first regular session of the sixtieth general assembly, are reenacted as section 18-1.4-102, and are hereby made applicable to offenses committed on or after July 1, 1995, and prior to July 12, 2002.
It is the expressed intention of the general assembly that the adoption of section 181.4-102 shall not be construed by any court as a legislative statement that the provisions of Senate Bill 95-54, enacted at the first regular session of the sixtieth general assembly, are unconstitutional in any way or that any death sentence obtained pursuant to the provisions of Senate Bill 95-54, enacted at the first regular session of the sixtieth general assembly, is invalid in any way.
It is the expressed intention of the general assembly that this article is independentfrom section 16-11-103, C.R.S., as it existed prior to October 1, 2002, and section 18-1.3-1201 and that, if any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the application of section 16-11-103, C.R.S., as it existed prior to October 1, 2002, and section 181.3-1201 to any offense committed on or after the effective date of amendments to said sections enacted at the third extraordinary session of the sixty-third general assembly.
Source: L. 2002, 3rd Ex. Sess.: Entire article added, p. 16, § 12, effective July 12. L. 2005: (1) amended, p. 766, § 27, effective June 1.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration contained in the 2002 act enacting this article, see section 16 of chapter 1 of the supplement to the Session Laws of Colorado 2002, Third Extraordinary Session.