H.B. No. 609
AN ACT
relating to the composition of the jury in certain adjudication
hearings in juvenile court.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 54.03(c), Family Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) Trial shall be by jury unless jury is waived in
accordance with Section 51.09. If the hearing is on a petition that
has been approved by the grand jury under Section 53.045, the jury
must consist of 12 persons and be selected in accordance with the
requirements in criminal cases. If the hearing is on a petition
that alleges conduct that violates a penal law of this state of the
grade of misdemeanor, the jury must consist of the number of persons
required by Article 33.01(b), Code of Criminal Procedure. Jury
verdicts under this title must be unanimous.
SECTION 2. Section 54.03(c), Family Code, as amended by
this Act, applies to an adjudication hearing conducted in a
juvenile court for which a jury is selected on or after the
effective date of this Act, regardless of the date the petition on
which the hearing is based was filed.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 609 was passed by the House on April
15, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 609 was passed by the Senate on May 5,
2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor