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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the composition of the jury in certain adjudication |
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hearings in juvenile court. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.03(c), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) Trial shall be by jury unless jury is waived in |
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accordance with Section 51.09. If the hearing is on a petition that |
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has been approved by the grand jury under Section 53.045, the jury |
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must consist of 12 persons and be selected in accordance with the |
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requirements in criminal cases. If the hearing is on a petition |
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that alleges conduct that violates a penal law of this state of the |
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grade of misdemeanor, the jury must consist of the number of persons |
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required by Article 33.01(b), Code of Criminal Procedure. Jury |
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verdicts under this title must be unanimous. |
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SECTION 2. Section 54.03(c), Family Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies to an adjudication hearing conducted in a |
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juvenile court for which a jury is selected on or after the |
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effective date of this Act, regardless of the date the petition on |
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which the hearing is based was filed. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |