1-1     By:  Keel, Hinojosa (Senate Sponsor - Duncan)          H.B. No. 842
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 9, 2001;
 1-3     April 9, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
 1-4     Jurisprudence; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following
 1-5     vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to the authority of less than the whole number of a jury
 1-9     to render a verdict in a felony case when a juror dies or becomes
1-10     disabled.
1-11           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12           SECTION 1. Article 36.29, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-13     amended by amending  the heading to read as follows:
1-14           Art. 36.29.  IF A JUROR DIES OR BECOMES DISABLED [ILL].
1-15           SECTION 2. Article 36.29(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
1-16     amended to read as follows:
1-17           (a)  Not less than twelve jurors can render and return a
1-18     verdict in a felony case.  It must be concurred in by each juror
1-19     and signed by the foreman.  Except as provided in Subsection (b)
1-20     [of this section], however, after [when pending] the trial of any
1-21     felony case begins and a[, one] juror dies [may die] or, as
1-22     determined by the judge, becomes [be] disabled from sitting at any
1-23     time before the charge of the court is read to the jury, the
1-24     remainder of the jury shall have the power to render the verdict;
1-25     but when the verdict shall be rendered by less than the whole
1-26     number, it shall be signed by every member of the jury concurring
1-27     in it.
1-28           SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
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