The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee approved...

The House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee approved two measures that could halt executions for 2 years in the nation's most active death penalty state. The 5-4 vote on 2 proposed constitutional amendments came a week after a Senate panel endorsed similar legislation. On April 10, Senate Justice Criminal Committee approved (4-3) bill SJR25 by Sen. Shapleigh for a two years moratorium. If the House and Senate proposals are approved by a 2/3 majority of both bodies, the resolutions would put the issue before voters in November. The House moratorium legislation is HJR 56, and would impose a 2-year moratorium on executions in Texas while the state studies how it administers the death penalty. HJR 59 would give the governor authority to declare a moratorium. (texts: http://www.capitol.state.tx.us)