Governor John Rowland signed a bill to prohibit the...

Governor John Rowland signed a bill to prohibit the execution of those with mental retardation. The bill, also provides for a study of the state's death penalty system. The study will examine whether there are disparities in prosecutors' decisions to seek the death penalty based on a defendant's or victim's race or economic status. The bill is effective as of July 1, 2001. The day before, June 5, the Senate approved (22 against 13) in second reading (the first was on May 17) the law that passed the House on May 24, 2001 (105 against 40). The law is a complicated bill to amend the state's death penalty. It would make it easier to impose a death sentence for the murder of a police officer, but would exempt mentally retarded convicts from execution. The bill also authorizes a study of how capital punishment is applied in Connecticut, and removes from the list of capital felonies illegal drug sales that result in death. An amendment that would have imposed a 2-year moratorium on executions in the state failed 74-71. Republican Gov. John G. Rowland is expected to sign it.