By Sibley                                              S.B. No. 723
       74R6349 GWK-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the preparation of a list of potential witnesses for
    1-3  use of the parties in conducting the voir dire examination in a
    1-4  criminal case.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Chapter 35, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
    1-7  amended by adding Article 35.171 to read as follows:
    1-8        Art. 35.171.  WITNESS LIST AVAILABLE FOR VOIR DIRE.  For the
    1-9  purposes of preparation for voir dire, and on timely and proper
   1-10  motion of the attorney representing the state or the defendant,
   1-11  either party is entitled to a list of witnesses the other party
   1-12  reasonably anticipates calling to testify at trial.  If voir dire
   1-13  is conducted and it is necessary that the name of a potential
   1-14  witness be revealed during the voir dire, neither the parties nor
   1-15  the court may comment on which side may potentially call the
   1-16  witness.
   1-17        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-18        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-19  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-20  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-21  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-22  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.