By Gallego                                            H.B. No. 2592
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to peremptory challenges.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Article 35.14 of the Code of Criminal Procedure
    1-5  is amended by adding subsections (b), (c), and (d) to read as
    1-6  follows:
    1-7        Article 35.14.  A peremptory challenge.
    1-8        (a)  A peremptory challenge is made to a juror without
    1-9  assigning any reason therefor.
   1-10        (b)  Each defendant and the state in capital cases is limited
   1-11  to six peremptory challenges.
   1-12        (c)  Each defendant and the state in non-capital felony cases
   1-13  is limited to three peremptory challenges.
   1-14        (d)  Each defendant and the state in misdemeanor cases is
   1-15  limited to one peremptory challenge.
   1-16        SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
   1-17  to juries which are chosen on or after the effective date of this
   1-18  bill.
   1-19        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1993.
   1-20        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-21  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-22  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-23  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-1  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.