USA - Oklahoma. Bill changing execution drugs heads to Oklahoma governor

Bill changing execution drugs heads to Oklahoma governor. 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 today 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. Sen. Anthony Sykes, who wrote the bill, said the change was needed after a recent shortage of sodium thiopental forced Oklahoma to replace one of the drugs used to execute inmates. (see also March 22).