KS
Kansas House Bill HB2782

Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2782

Introduced
2/8/24  
Refer
2/8/24  

Caption

Authorizing the secretary of corrections to use hypoxia for the purpose of carrying out a sentence of death and requiring the district court to issue a warrant to the secretary of corrections to carry out a sentence of death.

Impact

The enactment of HB2782 removes the previous provisions for execution methods, replacing them with the requirement that executions can be carried out by intravenous injection or hypoxia. This change represents a notable shift in the state's approach to capital punishment, echoing a broader trend in U.S. legal practice regarding execution methods. Proponents believe that implementing hypoxia could reduce complications associated with traditional lethal injections, while also attempting to address ethical concerns regarding the humane nature of executions.

Summary

House Bill 2782 introduces significant changes to the execution of death sentences in Kansas, specifically by allowing the use of hypoxia as an approved method of execution. The bill mandates that the secretary of corrections select the appropriate method of carrying out a death sentence, expediting the process by requiring district courts to issue warrants for execution within a specified timeframe after appeals are resolved. The bill aims to ensure that executions are carried out 'in a swift and humane manner', reinforcing compliance with federal standards, particularly the Eighth Amendment.

Contention

Despite its intent, HB2782 has raised concerns among various stakeholders, including advocacy groups and legal experts who argue that introducing hypoxia as a method of execution could lead to unforeseen complications and ethical dilemmas. Critics assert that any method of execution carries inherent risks of suffering, and they argue that the law does not sufficiently safeguard against potential inhumane outcomes. This controversy mirrors ongoing national debates surrounding capital punishment, particularly the moral and practical implications of employing different execution techniques.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SB534

Authorizing the secretary of corrections to use hypoxia for the purpose of carrying out a sentence of death and requiring the district court to issue a warrant to the secretary of corrections to carry out a sentence of death.

KS SB239

Creating a special sentencing rule to add 100 months to a sentence for distribution of a controlled substance when the substance involved is fentanyl and the distribution causes the death of a child.

KS HB2272

Providing that no person shall be sentenced to death for crimes committed after July 1, 2025, and creating the crime of aggravated murder.

KS SB245

Providing that no person shall be sentenced to death for crimes committed after July 1, 2025, and creating the crime of aggravated murder.

KS SB52

Update certain provisions regarding the Department of Corrections and the authority of the Secretary of Corrections.

KS HB1479

Mississippi Department of Corrections Commissioner; revise authority to inflict the death penalty.

KS SB289

Permitting functional incapacitation release and terminal medical condition release for persons sentenced to imprisonment for an off-grid offense and extending terminal medical condition release to inmates in the custody of the secretary of corrections with a condition likely to cause death within 180 days.

KS S07503

Authorizes courts to reduce or modify sentences for certain individuals when such sentence is deemed to be greater than necessary to achieve the purposes of sentencing.

KS HB2021

Requiring the secretary for children and families to assess certain children and the secretary of corrections to provide certain services to juveniles in detention, changing the criteria used to refer and admit juveniles to a juvenile crisis intervention center, allowing evidence-based program account money to be used on certain children, requiring the department of corrections to build data systems and allowing for overall case length limit extensions for certain juvenile offenders.

KS HB2751

Authorizing the Kansas department for aging and disability services to condition or restrict a disability service provider license, granting the secretary authority to grant regulation waivers unrelated to health and safety and authorizing correction orders and civil fines to be appealed to the secretary.

Similar Bills

KS SB534

Authorizing the secretary of corrections to use hypoxia for the purpose of carrying out a sentence of death and requiring the district court to issue a warrant to the secretary of corrections to carry out a sentence of death.

LA HB442

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KS HB2390

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