By Seidlits                                           H.J.R. No. 81
       74R7115 RJA-D
                                  A JOINT RESOLUTION
    1-1  proposing a constitutional amendment to provide for six-person
    1-2  juries in district court civil cases.
    1-3        BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 13, Article V, Texas Constitution, is
    1-5  amended to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 13.  (a)  Grand juries and petit juries in criminal
    1-7  cases in the District Courts shall be composed of twelve persons
    1-8  <men>; but nine members of a grand jury shall be a quorum to
    1-9  transact business and present bills.  In <trials of civil cases,
   1-10  and in> trials of criminal cases below the grade of felony in the
   1-11  District Courts, nine members of the jury, concurring, may render a
   1-12  verdict, but when the verdict shall be rendered by less than the
   1-13  whole number, it shall be signed by every member of the jury
   1-14  concurring in it.  When, pending the trial of any criminal case,
   1-15  one or more jurors not exceeding three, may die, or be disabled
   1-16  from sitting, the remainder of the jury shall have the power to
   1-17  render the verdict; provided, that the Legislature may change or
   1-18  modify the rule authorizing less than the whole number of the jury
   1-19  to render a verdict.
   1-20        (b)  The jury in a civil case in the District Courts shall
   1-21  consist of six persons.  Five persons concurring may render a
   1-22  verdict.  If a verdict is rendered by five persons, the five
   1-23  concurring jurors shall sign the verdict.  If a juror dies or
   1-24  becomes disabled from sitting on the jury during the trial, the
    2-1  remaining five jurors may render the verdict.  The Legislature may
    2-2  change the rule authorizing  five concurring persons to render a
    2-3  verdict to require the concurrence of all jurors.
    2-4        SECTION 2.  The following temporary provision is added to the
    2-5  Texas Constitution:
    2-6        TEMPORARY PROVISION.  (a)  This temporary provision applies
    2-7  to the constitutional amendment proposed by the 74th Legislature,
    2-8  Regular Session, 1995, requiring that juries in district court
    2-9  civil cases be composed of six persons and expires September 2,
   2-10  1996.
   2-11        (b)  The constitutional amendment takes effect September 1,
   2-12  1996.
   2-13        SECTION 3.  This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
   2-14  submitted to the voters at an election to be held on November 7,
   2-15  1995.  The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against
   2-16  the proposition:  "The constitutional amendment providing for
   2-17  six-person juries in district court civil cases."