bill excuses legislative staff from grand juries during session

The text as introduced · 264 words

89R10332 AJZ-D

By: Hall
S.B. No. 1075

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to excuses from grand jury service.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Article 19A.105(b), Code of Criminal Procedure,

is amended to read as follows:

(b) The following qualified persons may be excused from

grand jury service:

(1) a person older than 70 years of age;

(2) a person responsible for the care of a child

younger than 18 years of age;

(3) a student of a public or private secondary school;

(4) a person enrolled in and in actual attendance at an

institution of higher education; [ and ]

(5) a person who is a legislative employee, as defined

by Section 306.008, Government Code, if the service would occur

during a legislative session; and

(6) any other person the court determines has a

reasonable excuse from service.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 governed by the law in effect on the

date the proceeding began, and the former law is continued in effect

for that purpose.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.