A Missouri Senate committee is considering legislation on the death penalty.
The only committee chaired by a Democrat in the Republican-controlled Senate held hearings Wednesday on several bills. One measure seeks to abolish the death penalty while others addressed procedures involved with carrying out executions.
Under one of the bills, an 11-member commission would be created to establish execution protocols. Members of the commission would include the attorney general, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, health care workers and an appointee to represent crime victims.
Another proposal would bar the Department of Corrections from using cash to purchase execution drugs. It also would prevent those supplying equipment and chemicals from inclusion on Missouri's execution team. The identity of members of the execution team is protected by state privacy laws.
