The state Senate yesterday voted 14-10 to ask a death penalty commission to look at applying capital punishment to murders that take place during home invasions.

The Senate voted to send to interim study a bill prompted by the October break-in at a Mont Vernon home, in which Kimberly Cates was murdered and her daughter severely injured.

State Sen. Sheila Roberge, a Bedford Republican, said she was "disappointed the Senate Democrats believe someone breaking into your home and killing you should not be included in the death penalty laws."

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Stephen also criticized Senate Democrats for not passing the bill, arguing that the death penalty "is a deterrent to criminals committing the most heinous crimes."

Democrats said the bill should fall under the existing commission, which is already looking at all aspects of the death penalty, including whether it should be expanded.

In other business, the Senate decided by voice vote to suspend aid to school districts for new school building projects. The suspension would last one year while a committee works to restructure the program.

The Senate Finance Committee must review the bill, which would then return to the Senate for another vote. If it passes, it will go to the House.

Any building projects approved before June 30 would still qualify for state aid. Waivers could be granted for a project undertaken for health or safety reasons. According to a statement from state Sen. Molly Kelly, a Keene Democrat who sponsored the bill, state aid has grown to $44 million, up from $350,000 in 1956. Accounting for inflation, the 1956 aid level is equal to $2.8 million.

"It is important that we as lawmakers slow down the current rapid, accelerated growth in school building aid in order to have the necessary time to consider how we structure a school building aid program that is sensible, equitable and sustainable," Kelly said.

The Senate tabled a bill proposed by state Sen. Jeb Bradley, a Wolfeboro Republican, that would have repealed the LLC tax. But it passed by voice vote a bipartisan bill that would repeal the LLC tax and make changes to the law defining reasonable compensation.

State Sen. Lou D'Allesandro, a Manchester Democrat and the bill's prime sponsor, said the bill will go to the Senate Finance Committee, where a working group is looking at all of the issues surrounding the LLC tax. D'Allesandro said he and Bradley would both be involved.

"We're going to work together to solve the problem," D'Allesandro said.

Senators also tabled a bill to repeal a recently implemented tax on campgrounds. The House will consider a similar bill today.