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Honorable Albert G. Valadez - Page 2 (L0-94-003)
The plain language of the amended provision createsfour grand jury terms in every calendar year: The first term begins on the fourth Monday after the first Monday in January-for 1994, the date is January 31; the second begins on the eleventh Monday after the first Monday in January-for 1994, the date is March 21; the third begins on the fourth Monday after the first Monday in July-for 1994, the date is August 1; the fourth begins on the eleventh Monday after the first Monday in July-for 1994, the date is September 19. This construction is supported by other provisions of the bill analysis accompanying House Bill 2719. The "background" information states: Because of the sparse population, the present grand jury system works an extreme hardship on many of its citizens. The method of selecting grand juries for six months, and the necessity for increased meetings of that body are requiring some citizens to miss work and drive excessive distances in order to perform their civic duty. It is felt that if the length of time of the grand jury's term were decreased, there would be less of an economic hardship on the individual citizen. The declared "purpose" of House Bill 2719 is "to decrease the length of the grand jury's term." The "two term" construction noted, sypra, would actually lengthen the term of the year's first grand jury from six months to almost eight months. In our opinion, the legislature intended in House Bill 2719 to decrease the length of grand jury terms in Brewster County by increasing the number of terms from two to four. SUMMARY Pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (1), subsection (c) of section 24.185 of the Government Code, Brewster County has four annual grand jury terms. Those terms will commence for calendar year 1994 on January 31, March 21, August 1, and September 19. Yours very truly, Rick Gilpin Assistant Attorney General Opinion Committee