Louisiana lawmaker's bill would allow nitrogen gas executions

A Louisiana lawmaker is proposing a bill that would allow for nitrogen gas to be used in executions in the event lethal injection is unavailable, making it the latest state to consider adopting the practice after Alabama put a man to death last month through the first-of-its-kind method.

Rep. Nicholas Muscarello, a Republican who chairs the House's Civil Law and Procedure Committee, said Friday that he drafted the bill primarily as a way to ensure the identities of individuals and companies that help to administer the death penalty in the state remain confidential. In recent years, manufacturers and suppliers known to have their drugs used in lethal injections have declined participation, which has made the process increasingly difficult in states such as Louisiana.

Muscarello said he still believes lethal injection can be used the vast majority of the time, but the state should have other options.

"The state of Louisiana will do everything within its power to make sure this process is done efficiently and humanely and we will not cut any corners in order to make sure we are doing this the right way," he said. "But at the end of the day, we made a commitment to the families of victims with the verdicts that were reached, and we need to proceed forward."

He added that he would help in the design of a nitrogen hypoxia protocol in conjunction with the governor's office "to make sure it's done correctly and above board."

The bill, which was prefiled Thursday, is expected to be discussed in a special legislative session focusing on the state's criminal justice system beginning Feb. 19. If passed, it would give the state Department of Public Safety and Corrections the "discretion" to select a process of either lethal