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7 LONG TITLE
8 Committee Note:
9 The Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee recommended this bill.
10 General Description:
11 This bill modifies the Utah Code of Criminal Procedure regarding the execution of the
12 death penalty.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This bill:
15 ▸ provides that if substances are not available to carry out the death penalty by lethal
16 injection on the date specified by warrant, the death penalty shall be carried out by
17 firing squad.
18 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
19 None
20 Other Special Clauses:
21 None
22 Utah Code Sections Affected:
23 AMENDS:
24 76-2-404, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 51
25 77-18-5.5, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 51
26 77-19-10, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2004, Chapter 51
27
28 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
29 Section 1. Section 76-2-404 is amended to read:
30 76-2-404. Peace officer's use of deadly force.
31 (1) A peace officer, or any person acting by [
32 providing aid and assistance, is justified in using deadly force when:
33 (a) the officer is acting in obedience to and in accordance with the judgment of a
34 competent court in executing a penalty of death under Subsection 77-18-5.5[
35 or (4);
36 (b) effecting an arrest or preventing an escape from custody following an arrest, where
37 the officer reasonably believes that deadly force is necessary to prevent the arrest from being
38 defeated by escape; and
39 (i) the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect has committed a felony
40 offense involving the infliction or threatened infliction of death or serious bodily injury; or
41 (ii) the officer has probable cause to believe the suspect poses a threat of death or
42 serious bodily injury to the officer or to others if apprehension is delayed; or
43 (c) the officer reasonably believes that the use of deadly force is necessary to prevent
44 death or serious bodily injury to the officer or another person.
45 (2) If feasible, a verbal warning should be given by the officer prior to any use of
46 deadly force under Subsection (1)(b) or (1)(c).
47 Section 2. Section 77-18-5.5 is amended to read:
48 77-18-5.5. Judgment of death -- Method is lethal injection -- Exceptions for use of
49 firing squad.
50 (1) (a) When a defendant is convicted of a capital felony and the judgment of death has
51 been imposed, lethal intravenous injection is the method of execution.
52 [
53 3, 2004, except under Subsections (2), (3), and (4).
54 [
55 the method of execution for that defendant shall be a firing squad. This Subsection [
56 applies to any defendant whose right to be executed by a firing squad is preserved by that
57 judgment.
58 [
59 face, the method of execution shall be a firing squad.
60 (b) If a court holds that execution by lethal injection is unconstitutional as applied, the
61 method of execution for that defendant shall be a firing squad.
62 (4) The method of execution for the defendant is the firing squad if the sentencing
63 court determines the state is unable to lawfully obtain the substance or substances necessary to
64 conduct an execution by lethal intravenous injection 30 or more days prior to the date specified
65 in the warrant issued upon a judgment of death under Section 77-19-6.
66 Section 3. Section 77-19-10 is amended to read:
67 77-19-10. Judgment of death -- Location and procedures for execution.
68 (1) The executive director of the Department of Corrections or [
69 ensure that the method of judgment of death specified in the warrant or as required under
70 Section 77-18-5.5 is carried out at a secure correctional facility operated by the department and
71 at an hour determined by the department on the date specified in the warrant.
72 (2) When the judgment of death is to be carried out by lethal intravenous injection, the
73 executive director of the department or [
74 in accordance with accepted medical practices to administer intravenous injections, who shall
75 each administer a continuous intravenous injection, one of which shall be of a lethal quantity
76 of:
77 (a) sodium thiopental; or
78 (b) other equally or more effective substance sufficient to cause death.
79 (3) If the judgment of death is to be carried out by firing squad under Subsection
80 77-18-5.5[
81 shall select a five-person firing squad of peace officers.
82 (4) Compensation for persons administering intravenous injections and for members of
83 a firing squad under Subsection 77-18-5.5[
84 determined by the director of the Division of Finance.
85 (5) Death under this section shall be certified by a physician.
86 (6) The department shall adopt and enforce rules governing procedures for the
87 execution of judgments of death.
Legislative Review Note
as of 11-14-14 3:34 PM
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel