USA - Nevada. Senate advances bill to conduct audit on death penalty costs

Senate advances bill to conduct audit on death penalty costs. On an 11-10 vote, the Senate agreed the legislative auditor must compare the costs of prosecution and appeals of capital cases versus non-death penalty cases. Republicans opposed the bill, which would look into the cost of defense lawyers, juries, psychiatric evaluations, appellate and post-conviction proceedings. The legislative auditor must examine the cost of an execution, including the costs of facilities and staff. The report is due Jan. 31, 2013. Assembly Bill 501, as originally introduced, called for a 2-year moratorium on the death penalty, but prison officials told legislators the drug used to inject inmates wasn't available. There also is a question on whether the death chamber in the Nevada State Prison is usable. The bill returns to the Assembly for agreement on an amendment.