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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a challenge to a grand juror and the recording of |
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certain proceedings relating to the grand jury. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 19, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 19.211 to read as follows: |
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Art. 19.211. RECORDING OF CERTAIN PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO |
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GRAND JURY. A stenographer or a person operating an electronic |
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recording device capable of recording sound shall record: |
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(1) an interrogation of a prospective grand juror that |
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is conducted under Article 19.22; |
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(2) a challenge to the array under Article 19.30; |
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(3) a challenge to a prospective grand juror under |
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Article 19.31; |
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(4) an oath administered to grand jurors under Article |
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19.34; and |
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(5) the court's instructions to the grand jury under |
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Article 19.35. |
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SECTION 2. Article 19.31, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The court shall allow the attorney representing the |
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state a reasonable opportunity to question a grand juror in order to |
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determine whether the juror may be challenged under Subsection |
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(a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (7), or (10). |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies to a |
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grand jury impaneled on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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grand jury impaneled before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the grand jury was |
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impaneled, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |