TRENTON -- In an effort to solidify opposition to gay marriage legislation currently pending in the state legislature, five Senate Republicans today said they will be supporting the civil union law and work instead to make sure it is enforced.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean (R-Union) along with Sens. Chris "Kip" Bateman (R-Somerset), Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth), Sean Kean (R-Monmouth) and Andrew Ciesla (R-Ocean) asked for Democratic senators to join them, saying it's "unlikely that a bill redefining marriage can pass the Senate."

Full Star-Ledger coverage of the Gay Marriage Debate in New Jersey

“Moving testimony in Senate hearings suggests that New Jersey’s civil union law is not always understood or followed,” Kean said in an email statement. “We need to educate the public about the law, and enhance it if necessary so that no civil union partner is turned away from the hospital bed of a loved one.”

The senators did not say how they would enforce the current civil union law so that it "provides all rights and benefits that legislators intended," except to say there should be "strong penalties" for violating it.

Democratic party members and gay marriage supporters have previously reached out to Republican senators believed to be undecided on the issue, in an effort to rally support for the bill.

The legislation passed the Senate Judiciary committee earlier this month but did not have the support needed for a full floor vote. Proponents of the bill say they are giving the issue a break during the holidays and could post it for debate in the Assembly Judiciary Committee as early as Jan. 4th.