Members of the New Jersey Senate have overwhelmingly passed a bill that would suspend executions in the state and create a new death penalty study commission to examine New Jersey’s death penalty. The bill, S-709, passed by a vote of 30-6 and now moves to the New Jersey Assembly for consideration in January. Should the bill become law, New Jersey would become the first state in the country to legislatively impose a moratorium on the death penalty. The bill would require the formation of a death penalty commission composed of 13 members. The commission would review the state’s death penalty and submit its findings by November 15, 2006. Among the issues the commission would examine are racial and geographic bias, cost and whether alternatives exist that will both ensure public safety and address the needs of victims’ families. (NJADP Press Release, “New Jersey Senate Passes Bill to Suspend Executions, December 15, 2005) Read the press release. See Recent Legislative Developments.