Sec. 3. (a) As a part of the preliminary instructions, the court shall instruct the jurors that if a juror realizes, during the course of the trial, that he has personal knowledge of any fact material to the cause, he shall inform the bailiff that he believes he has this knowledge at the next recess or upon adjournment, whichever is sooner. The bailiff shall inform the court of the juror’s belief, and the court shall examine the juror under oath in the presence of the parties and outside the presence of the other jurors concerning his personal knowledge of any material fact.

     (b) If the court finds that the juror has personal knowledge of a material fact, the juror shall be excused and the court shall replace that juror with an alternate. If there is no alternate juror, then the court shall discharge the jury without prejudice, unless the parties agree to submit the cause to the remaining jurors.

As added by Acts 1981, P.L.298, SEC.6.