California takes next step to use 1 drug in executions
California is taking the next step in its plan to use a single drug to execute condemned prisoners.
The state filed its proposed new procedures on Tuesday, but they won’t be published for more than a week.
The regulations for using one drug instead of the current three were sent to the state’s Office of Administrative Law to meet a deadline in a legal settlement between the corrections department and families of murder victims.
They are being proposed as numerous states grapple with their execution policies because of legal challenges and a shortage of lethal drugs. Officials say the nationwide shortage also slowed the adoption of regulations in California.
The proposed regulations are expected to be published Nov. 6, triggering a 62-day comment period and public hearing.
