BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1298

By: Huffman

Criminal Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties report that judges in some smaller counties have expressed the need to have a larger pool of potential grand jurors. S.B. 1298 seeks to accomplish this goal by increasing the maximum number of prospective grand jurors that may be selected and summoned.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 1298 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to increase from 125 to 250 the maximum number of prospective grand jurors that a district judge may direct to be selected and summoned.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.