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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the qualifications for service as a grand juror. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 19.08, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 19.08. QUALIFICATIONS. No person shall be selected or |
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serve as a grand juror who does not possess the following |
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qualifications: |
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1. The person must be a citizen of the state, and of |
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the county in which the person is to serve, and be qualified under |
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the Constitution and laws to vote in said county, provided that the |
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person's failure to register to vote shall not be held to disqualify |
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the person in this instance; |
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2. The person must be of sound mind and good moral |
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character; |
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3. The person must be able to read and write; |
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4. The person must not have been convicted of |
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misdemeanor theft or a felony; |
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5. The person must not be under indictment or other |
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legal accusation for misdemeanor theft or a felony; |
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6. The person must not be related within the third |
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degree of consanguinity or second degree of affinity, as determined |
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under Chapter 573, Government Code, to any person selected to serve |
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or serving on the same grand jury; |
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7. The person must not have served as a [grand juror
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or] jury commissioner in the year preceding [before] the date on |
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which the term of court for which the person has been selected as a |
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grand juror begins; |
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8. The person must not be a complainant in any matter |
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to be heard by the grand jury during the term of court for which the |
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person has been selected as a grand juror; and |
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9. The person must not have served as a grand juror |
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during the two-year period preceding the date on which the term of |
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court for which the person has been selected as a grand juror |
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begins. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to qualifications for grand jury service for a person required to |
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appear for grand jury service by a summons made on or after |
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September 1, 2015. The qualifications of a person required to |
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appear for grand jury service before September 1, 2015, are |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the summons is made, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |