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REFERENCE TITLE: death sentence; choice; firing squad |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-seventh Legislature Second Regular Session 2026
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SCR 1049 |
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Introduced by Senator Payne
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A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA; AMENDING ARTICLE XXII, SECTION 22, CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA; RELATING TO CAPITAL PUNISHMENT.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives concurring:
1. Article XXII, section 22, Constitution of Arizona, is proposed to be amended as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:
22. Judgments of death
Section 22. A. The judgment of death shall be inflicted by the defendant's choice of one of the following:
1. Firing squad.
2. Administering an intravenous injection of a substance or substances in a lethal quantity sufficient to cause death. except that defendants sentenced to death for offenses committed prior to the effective date of the amendment to this section shall have the choice of either lethal injection or
3. Lethal gas.
B. if a defendant does not choose a method of death, the default method of death is lethal injection.
C. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, death by firing squad is the method of death for a defendant who has murdered a law enforcement officer and the defendant knew or should have known the law enforcement officer was acting in the law enforcement officer's line of duty.
D. If any option is invalidated by an unappealable court order or is unavailable in the state at the time the defendant chooses a method of death, the defendant may choose from other options listed in this section, and Judgment of death shall be inflicted by any lawful means available If the final choice is unavailable.
E. The lethal injection or lethal gas shall be administered under such procedures and supervision as prescribed by law. Death by firing squad shall be Conducted by a MINIMUM of three volunteer shooters and with the use of one blank round. The execution shall take place within the limits of the state prison.
2. The Secretary of State shall submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election as provided by article XXI, Constitution of Arizona.