This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.
78R6111 BDH-F
By: Riddle H.B. No. 1612
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the use of alternate grand jurors.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 19.26(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The grand jury is composed of not more than twelve
qualified jurors. In addition, the court shall qualify and impanel
not more than two alternates to serve on disqualification or
unavailability of a juror during the term of the grand jury. On
learning that a grand juror has become disqualified or unavailable
during the term of the grand jury, the attorney representing the
state shall prepare an order for the court identifying the
disqualified or unavailable juror, stating the basis for the
disqualification or unavailability, dismissing the disqualified or
unavailable juror from the grand jury, and naming one of the
alternates as a member of the grand jury. The procedure established
by this subsection may be used on disqualification or
unavailability of a second grand juror during the term of the grand
jury. For purposes of this subsection, a juror is unavailable if
the juror is unable to participate fully in the duties of the grand
jury because of the death of the juror or a physical or mental
illness of the juror.
SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a grand jury impaneled
on or after September 1, 2003.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.