Bills that could bring back electric chair in SC headed to House, Senate floors [View all]

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- A pair of bills in the South Carolina House and Senate that would make the electric chair the default mode of execution in the state are heading to the floor for debate in their respective chambers.

The House Judiciary Committee met Tuesday to advance the lower chamber’s bill on executions, voting 14-7. Four members did not vote.

The Senate bill is currently on the chamber’s calendar, but has not been discussed on the floor as lawmakers are currently busy debating a $500 million bond bill to improve Charleston’s port. Once senators finish discussing the bond bill, the execution bill could come up within the next few legislative days.

The bills are aimed at combating a nationwide shortage in lethal injection drugs, which has stopped South Carolina from carrying out two scheduled executions to date. The drug shortage was caused by manufacturers that sought to clamp down on how their products were being used. Companies have even gone to court to block the usage of their products in executions.

Read more: https://www.thestate.com/news/politics-government/article249456615.html