By:  Cain                                             S.B. No. 1863
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to voir dire requirements in civil actions.
 1-2           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-3           SECTION 1.  Chapter 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
 1-4     amended by adding Section 30.006 to read as follows:
 1-5           Section 30.006.  VOIR DIRE REQUIREMENTS.  (a)  In this
 1-6     section,"side" has the same meaning as in Rule 233, Texas Rules of
 1-7     Civil Procedure, or its successor.
 1-8           (b)  In any civil action to be tried before a jury, the trial
 1-9     court shall allow each side voir dire, as follows:
1-10                 (1)  In Level One cases, as defined by Rule 190.2,
1-11     TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, at least one hour;
1-12                 (2)  In Level Two cases, as defined by Rule 190.3,
1-13     TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, at least two hours; and
1-14                 (3)  In Level Three cases, as defined by Rule 190.4,
1-15     TEXAS RULES OF CIVIL PROCEDURE, at least three hours.
1-16           (c)  The time allocated in Subsection (a) shall not include
1-17     time consumed in making preemptory challenges or challenges for
1-18     cause to jurors or in making or responding to objections.
1-19           (d)  The Supreme Court may adopt rules consistent with the
1-20     provisions of this Act.  To the extent that any rule conflicts with
1-21     the provisions of this Act, this Act controls.
1-22           (e)  Section 22.004, Government Code, does not apply to this
 2-1     section.
 2-2           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-4     imperative public necessity that the constitutional rule requiring
 2-5     bills to be read on three several days is hereby suspended, and
 2-6     that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-7     passage, and it is so enacted.