A bill to create a third method of execution for death penalty inmates in Alabama won approval today in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The bill, by Sen. Trip Pittman, R-Montrose, would allow death row inmates to choose execution by nitrogen gas, called nitrogen hypoxia. Hypoxia means a deprivation of oxygen.

Current law requires that executions in Alabama be carried out by lethal injection unless the condemned inmate chooses electrocution, which has never happened since lethal injection became the default method.

Pittman said he believes the death penalty is appropriate for some heinous crimes and that nitrogen hypoxia would be a more humane method.

Oklahoma and Mississippi have passed laws allowing execution by nitrogen hypoxia bu not such executions have been performed, according to the Associated Press.

The committee approved Pittman's bill by a vote of 11-1, moving it to the Senate floor.

Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison, D-Birmingham, said she opposed the death penalty but said she believed nitrogen hypoxia would be a more humane method.

Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, voted against the bill.

This story was edited at 4:25 p.m. to add more information from the Associated Press.