A proposed bill in Tennessee authorizing the death penalty as punishment for the rape of a child has cleared its first hurdle.

The Tennessee House Criminal Justice Subcommittee passed the legislation yesterday.

State Representative William Lamberth says the proposed House Bill 1663 states if an adult, anyone over the age of 18, rapes a child under the age of 12, the jury has the option of imposing the death penalty.

The proposed bill will now go to the full House Criminal Justice Committee.