78R5559 SLO-D

By:  Wilson                                                       H.B. No. 1213



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the recording of jury deliberations in civil and 
criminal proceedings.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 36, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 
amended by adding Article 36.215 to read as follows:
	Art. 36.215.  RECORDING OF JURY DELIBERATIONS.  A judge may 
allow a person to use any device to produce or make an audio, 
visual, or audio-visual broadcast, recording, or photograph of a 
jury while the jury is deliberating.
	SECTION 2.  Subtitle B, Title 2, Civil Practice and Remedies 
Code, is amended by adding Chapter 24 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 24.  RECORDING OF JURY DELIBERATIONS
	Sec. 24.001.  RECORDING PERMITTED.  A judge may allow a 
person to use any device to produce or make an audio, visual, or 
audio-visual broadcast, recording, or photograph of a jury while 
the jury is deliberating.
	SECTION 3.  (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                       
	(b)  The change in law made by this Act applies only to a 
trial commenced on or after September 1, 2003. A trial commenced 
before September 1, 2003, is covered by the law in effect when the 
trial commenced, and the former law is continued in effect for that 
purpose.