Legislators plan to look at alternatives to lethal injection as Oklahoma's method of execution during an interim study before lawmakers return for the 2015 session.
The study is among more than 80 that were formally approved on Friday by House Speaker Jeff Hickman, R-Fairview.
A total of 93 studies had been requested by House members. Sixty studies were approved individually and 22 requests were combined into 11 single studies. Hearings for the studies will be conducted by the standing committees to which they were assigned.
Former Oklahoma Highway Patrolman and Republican state Rep. Mike Christian of Oklahoma City requested the study following the botched execution of an Oklahoma death row inmate in April.
Christian says he also wants to examine Oklahoma's execution protocols and compare them to those of other states.
Current Oklahoma law calls for electrocution to be used as an alternative method of execution if lethal injection were declared unconstitutional. Christian says he believes a firing squad would be a better second option.
Hickman approved another study focusing on concealed carry on college and university classes to be combined with a similar Senate request. The joint study will combined House Interim Study 14H-078 and Senate Interim Study 14S-052.
A House press release says, "Studies can begin August 5th and will be held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through November 12th." A complete list of the requested studies and each approval, combination or denial can be found at the Oklahoma House web page.
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