OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A Senate budget panel has cleared a wide range of bills, allowing everything from teaching the Bible in public high schools to the death penalty for child rapists.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday approved more than three dozen bills during a marathon session.
Among the bills approved was a measure that would allow the death penalty for convicted felons who rape a child age 6 or younger.
Despite concerns from some members that the U.S. Supreme Court already struck down a similar Louisiana law just two years ago, Senate author Anthony Sykes says there are some notable differences.
Sykes says he plans to amend the bill to require a previous conviction for child rape and require the offender to have the intent to kill the child.
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