Bill Text: TX HJR112 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Proposing a constitutional amendment to change the composition of the grand jury.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-03-17 - Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence [HJR112 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HJR112-Introduced.html

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84R6460 AJZ-D
By: Dutton H.J.R. No. 112

A JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment to change the composition of
the grand jury.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 13, Article V, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 13. (a) Grand juries shall be composed of three
persons in each county and two members of a grand jury shall be a
quorum to transact business and present bills.
(b) Petit [and petit] juries in the District Courts shall be
composed of twelve persons, except that petit juries in a criminal
case below the grade of felony shall be composed of six persons[;
but nine members of a grand jury shall be a quorum to transact
business and present bills]. In trials of civil cases in the
District Courts, nine members of the jury, concurring, may render a
verdict, but when the verdict shall be rendered by less than the
whole number, it shall be signed by every member of the jury
concurring in it. When, pending the trial of any case, one or more
jurors not exceeding three, may die, or be disabled from sitting,
the remainder of the jury shall have the power to render the
verdict; provided, that the Legislature may change or modify the
rule authorizing less than the whole number of the jury to render a
verdict.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 3, 2015.
The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the
proposition: "The constitutional amendment to change the
composition of the grand jury."