JEFFERSON CITY - If a Senate measure is passed, Missourians would know who is providing the drugs to execute inmates.  

The issue arose because European based companies stopped providing Missouri with drugs to preform executions. The drug company, based in Europe, is opposed to the death penalty and threatened to stop shipment of the drug if it was being used for executions.

The state then turned to an undisclosed company that was traced to an Oklahoma pharmacy that then, once identified, ceased its shipments to the state.

One measure presented to the Senate committee would prohibit the execution team from buying an execution drug with cash or coins, and the provider of the drug cannot be on the execution team.

Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph, sponsored the bill because of what he called "shenanigans" that have taken place involving the recent executions in Missouri.

Schaaf said no one has voiced concerns about his bill.

Another measure would create a commission that would come up with a whole new protocol on how executions are preformed.  

Sen. Jolie Justus, D-Jackson County, said she created the measure to develop regulations that will govern the protocol for the death penalty in Missouri.

Members of the commission would include:

• A representative for the Attorney General's office
• A representative from the public defender system (retired or current)
• Prosecutor (sitting or retired)
• Active member of the Missouri Bar Association appointed by the Missouri Association of Defense Lawyers
• Two doctors
• Two pharmacists
• Two judges
• A representative for crime victims appointed by the Governor

The commission would not be allowed to make recommendations that involve repealing the death penalty.

Marilyn Keller, board member for the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, said it is her understanding that there are extraordinary efforts being undertaken to keep the protocols secret.

Keller said opening up the process would help prevent mistakes from being made.

"We should take this enormous responsibility out of the hands of just a few and place it with an 11 member commission," Keller said.

The bills heard in committee are among many that address the method of execution in Missouri including bills that would allow the Department of Corrections to pick its' own method including a firing squad.

Currently, Missouri law only allows two methods of executions, lethal injection and the gas chamber. But, the state has no functioning gas chamber after abandoning it years ago.