RALEIGH - A Senate bill that would repeal the Racial Justice Act is drawing fire from members of the legislative black caucus.

The 2009 law allows statistics to be used to show that race played a role in death penalty cases. The law was gutted by Republican lawmakers during the last session, and the latest bill would do away with it altogether. Senator Floyd McKissick of Durham says it's a sad commentary.

"So it gives me great concern. It gives me heart burn. It is a sad day for North Carolina."

North Carolina hasn't executed a death row inmate since 2006. The Senate legislation would allow executions to resume.