House Bill No. [insert bill number] proposes revisions to the laws governing the death penalty in Montana. The bill amends Section 46-19-103 of the Montana Code Annotated to specify that the punishment of death must be carried out through the administration of "an intravenous injection of a substance or substances in a lethal quantity sufficient to cause death." This replaces the previous requirement for a "continuous" injection of an ultra-fast-acting barbiturate in combination with a chemical paralytic agent. The bill also clarifies the procedures surrounding the execution process, including the setting of execution dates, the responsibilities of the warden, and the selection of witnesses.

Additionally, the bill outlines the conditions under which witnesses may be selected for the execution, allowing for a maximum of 12 witnesses from various groups, including the media and the families of both the victim and the condemned. It also establishes criteria for rejecting potential witnesses based on safety and security concerns. The changes aim to streamline the execution process while ensuring that it adheres to legal standards and maintains the confidentiality of the executioner’s identity.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 46-19-103
HB0205_1(1): 46-19-103
HB0205_1(2): 46-19-103
HB0205_1(3): 46-19-103
HB0205_1(4): 46-19-103
HB0205_1(5): 46-19-103
HB0205_1: 46-19-103