Arkansas House Committee Approves Execution Proposal

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An Arkansas legislative panel has approved a proposal to allow certain relatives of victims to attend executions.  

The Arkansas House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday passed a measure that would allow some adult relatives of victims to watch executions in person. Current law says adult relatives of victims  can watch executions on a closed-circuit TV.  

Arkansas Department of Correction spokeswoman Dina Tyler has spoken out against the proposal filed by Republican Sen. Bart Hester of Cave Springs.

Tyler has said the execution chamber is a very small room and that emotions run high during executions.

The measure now heads to the House for a vote. 

Arkansas doesn't have any pending executions.