This bill proposes to amend current statutes regarding the methods of execution for defendants sentenced to death. Under the new law, a defendant would have the option to choose between a firing squad, lethal gas, or lethal injection as the method of execution. The existing provision that limited the choice of lethal injection or lethal gas to defendants sentenced for offenses committed before November 23, 1992, would be removed, allowing all defendants to select their method of execution. Additionally, if a defendant fails to make a choice, the penalty of death would default to lethal injection.

Furthermore, the bill stipulates that its enactment is contingent upon the passage of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1049, which relates to capital punishment and requires an amendment to the Arizona Constitution. The bill also includes technical and conforming changes to ensure consistency within the law. Overall, these updates aim to provide greater choice to defendants regarding their execution method while aligning with constitutional requirements.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 13-757
Senate Engrossed Version: 13-757