By:  Gallego                                          H.J.R. No. 17
       73R309 GWK-D
                                  A JOINT RESOLUTION
    1-1  proposing a constitutional amendment relating to the number of
    1-2  jurors in a misdemeanor case tried in district court.
    1-3        BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Article V, Section 13, of the Texas Constitution
    1-5  is amended to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 13.  Except as otherwise provided by this section, grand
    1-7  <Grand> and petit juries in the District Courts shall be composed
    1-8  of twelve men; but nine members of a grand jury shall be a quorum
    1-9  to transact business and present bills.  The Legislature may
   1-10  provide by law that, in trials of misdemeanor cases in District
   1-11  Courts, petit juries shall be composed of six persons.  In trials
   1-12  of civil cases<, and in trials of criminal cases below the grade of
   1-13  felony in the District Courts,> nine members of the jury,
   1-14  concurring, may render a verdict, but when the verdict shall be
   1-15  rendered by less than the whole number, it shall be signed by every
   1-16  member of the jury concurring in it.  When, pending the trial of
   1-17  any case, one or more jurors not exceeding three, may die, or be
   1-18  disabled from sitting, the remainder of the jury shall have the
   1-19  power to render the verdict; provided, that the Legislature may
   1-20  change or modify the rule authorizing less than the whole number of
   1-21  the jury to render a verdict.
   1-22        SECTION 2.  This proposed amendment shall be submitted to the
   1-23  voters at an election to be held on November 2, 1993.  The ballot
   1-24  shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
    2-1  proposition:  "The constitutional amendment permitting six-person
    2-2  juries in misdemeanor cases tried in district court."