Today's Tulsa World reports, "Bill on lethal-injection drugs goes to Gov. Fallin." It's written by Barbara Hoberock.
The Oklahoma Senate on Monday sent Gov. Mary Fallin a measure that would adjust the language of the state's lethal-injection law.
The law dealing with administration of the death penalty specifies the drug types to be used in lethal injections. But a shortage of one of the drugs has resulted in some delays in executions. Sodium thiopental is used to render the condemned inmate unconscious.
House Bill 1991 by Rep. Dan Sullivan, R-Tulsa, removes the specific drugs to be used from the law governing executions.
The new language reads that the death penalty "shall be carried out by the administration of a lethal quantity of drug or drugs until death is pronounced by a licensed physician according to accepted standards of medical practice."
The state ran out of sodium thiopental in early 2010 and turned to pentobarbital, which is used for animal euthanasia.
Sen. Anthony Sykes, R-Moore, said the new drug combination has already been vetted in court. He is the Senate sponsor of HB 1991, which passed by a vote of 42-3.
Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Oklahoma City, was joined by Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Jim Wilson, D-Tahlequah, in voting against the measure.
Johnson said she is against the death penalty, adding that it does not save money or deter crime. She said that as a Christian country, residents believe in forgiveness.
"Bill Changing Execution Drugs Heads To Oklahoma Governor," is th eAP filing, via KOTV-TV.
Prison officials in Oklahoma would have broad authority to change the lethal drugs used to execute inmates under a bill that is heading to the governor's desk.
The Senate on Monday voted 42-3 for the bill that authorizes the Department of Corrections to use a lethal quantity of any "drug or drugs" when the state carries out the death penalty.
Existing law requires the department to use an "ultrashort acting barbiturate in combination with a paralytic agent," but prison officials say that law could pose a problem if they need to change the formula.
Earlier lethal injection coverage from Oklahoma begins at the link.
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