| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the oath taken by witnesses appearing before a grand |
|
|
jury. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Article 20.16, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Art. 20.16. OATHS TO WITNESSES. (a) The following oath |
|
|
shall be administered by the foreman, or under the foreman's [his] |
|
|
direction, to each witness before being interrogated: "You |
|
|
solemnly swear that you will not reveal, [divulge, either] by your |
|
|
words or conduct [signs], any matter about which you may be |
|
|
interrogated or that you have observed during the[, and that you
|
|
|
will keep secret all] proceedings of the grand jury [which may be
|
|
|
had in your presence], and that you will answer truthfully the [true
|
|
|
answers make to such] questions asked of [as may be propounded to] |
|
|
you by the grand jury, or under its direction, so help you God." |
|
|
(b) A [Any] witness who reveals [divulges] any matter about |
|
|
which the witness [he] is interrogated[,] or that the witness has |
|
|
observed during the [any] proceedings of the grand jury [had in his
|
|
|
presence], other than when required to give evidence thereof in due |
|
|
course, shall be liable to a fine as for contempt of court, not |
|
|
exceeding $500, and to imprisonment not exceeding six months. |
|
|
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
|
|
to a grand jury proceeding that begins on or after the effective |
|
|
date of this Act. A grand jury proceeding that begins before the |
|
|
effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect when the |
|
|
proceeding began, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
|
|
purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |