This bill amends several provisions related to the execution of death sentences in Louisiana, specifically R.S. 15:567 and R.S. 15:570, while also repealing R.S. 15:569.1. Key changes include the requirement for the sheriff to serve the execution warrant upon the secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections, and the stipulation that the execution date must be set between sixty to ninety days from the issuance of the warrant. Additionally, if a stay of execution is granted, the trial court is mandated to reset the execution date within thirty days of the stay's dissolution or the expiration of a reprieve, with specific guidelines on the timing of the new execution date.

The bill also modifies the composition of witnesses present at executions, replacing the requirement for a "priest or minister of the gospel" with a "spiritual advisor" if requested by the convict, and allows for a flexible number of witnesses as determined by the secretary. Furthermore, it changes the execution time from between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to a new timeframe of 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on the designated execution date. These amendments aim to clarify and streamline the procedures surrounding the execution of death sentences in the state.

Statutes affected:
HB394 Original: 15:567(B), 15:570(A)(5)
HB394 Engrossed: 15:567(B), 15:570(A)(5)
HB394 Enrolled: 15:567(B), 15:570(A)(5)
HB394 Act : 15:567(B), 15:570(A)(5)