BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1388
                                             By: Saunders (Nixon)
                                                    Jurisprudence
                                                          5-25-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Section 62.011(b)(5), Government Code, requires that the names and
addresses of persons summoned to begin jury service shall be filed
with the county clerk.  This provision conflicts with Article
35.29, Code of Criminal Procedure, which specifies that personal
information about jurors, including their addresses, is
confidential and may not be disclosed.  After filing a copy of any
such list with the county clerk's office, the list becomes a public
record.  Putative benefits of making such lists public must be
considered in accordance with the need to afford protection and
confidentiality to jurors who have given service to the jury
system.  In addition, the Code of Criminal Procedure already
provides a means for the court to release such information upon a
showing of good cause.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1388 resolves an existing contradiction in Texas
statutes by eliminating the requirement that lists of the names and
addresses of persons summoned to a jury be filed with the county
clerk.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 62.011(b), Government Code, to delete a
provision requiring a plan for the selection of prospective jurors
to specify that a true and complete written list of the names and
addresses of persons summoned to begin jury service to be filed of
record with the county clerk at least 10 days prior to service. 
Makes conforming changes.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.