Gov. Jeb Bush approved a law that bans executions of...

Gov. Jeb Bush approved a law that bans executions of mentally retarded prisoners. On May 4, the House passed the bill 110-1. The Senate passed the same bill unanimously in March. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Richard Mitchell, lists no IQ threshold, but takes into account an inmate's intellectual functioning and behavior. The bill was backed by prosecutors and the Association for Retarded Citizens. In 2000, the Senate passed the same measure, but it died in the House. (text: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Session/index.cfm?Mode=Bills&SubMenu=1&BI_Mode=ViewBillInfo&Year=2001&BillNum=0238)