JEFFERSON CITY – Today, Sen. Jolie Justus (D-Kansas City), introduced a bill to establish the Capital Sentencing Procedures and Protocols Commission, which would promulgate all rules dealing with the death penalty.  The method of execution used by the state has come under fire recently as information has arisen questioning the legality of execution drugs used by the state.

Senate Bill 787 would establish a commission to oversee the rulemaking process, but not to determine as a policy whether the death penalty should be used.  “This would allow for public inspection of the method and policies surrounding executions, without jeopardizing the privacy needed by the employees directly involved,” said Justus.

Issues surrounding the state’s execution protocol started last year with a shortage of the drug propofol.  The makers of the drug object to its use by American states in executions.  Recently, allegations have arisen that an out-of-state pharmacy is illegally supplying Missouri’s current lethal injection drug, pentobarbital.

“If we as a state are going to continue to execute people, it should be done legally and in compliance with the Missouri and U.S. constitutions,” concluded Justus.

To read more on this bill, visit www.senate.mo.gov/justus and click on the “Sponsored Bills Link” under the “Legislation” tab.