BILL ANALYSIS Judicial Affairs Committee By: Luna (Van de Putte) May 9, 1995 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, deaf and hard of hearing persons, although allowed to serve as jurors, are not provided interpreters. PURPOSE This bill sets forth provisions for the appointment of an interpreter to assist a deaf or hearing impaired juror. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1 amends Section 62.1041, Government Code, as follows: Sec. 62.1041. New title: DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING JUROR. (a) Provides that a deaf or hard of hearing person is not disqualified to serve as a juror solely because of hearing loss except as provided by this section. Subsec. (b) makes conforming changes. Subsec. (c) requires a deaf or hard of hearing person serving as a juror to be accommodated in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Authorizes an interpreter who is assisting the person to accompany the juror during all proceedings and deliberations in the case. Subsec. (d) Requires the county to pay the cost of obtaining the services of an interpreter to assist a deaf or hard of hearing juror in a district, county, or justice court. Subsec. (e) authorizes a deaf or hard of hearing juror to request an auxiliary aid or service for a municipal court proceeding. Requires the city to honor the request, with an exception. Requires the city to pay the cost unless the auxiliary aid or service will result in a fundamental alteration of the municipal court proceeding or in undue financial or administrative burdens. Subsec. (f) defines "deaf or hard of hearing." SECTION 2. Effective date. Application of act. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Pursuant to a public notice posted on May 8, 1995 and pursuant to an announcement made on May 9, 1995, while the House was still in session, the Committee on Judicial Affairs met in a formal meeting on May 9, 1995. Without objection, the Chair laid out S.B. 264, which was left pending at the committee's May 2nd meeting, and explained. Rep. Goodman moved that S.B. 264 be reported back to the full House with the recommendation that it do pass, be printed and sent to the Local & Consent Calendars Committee. The motion prevailed by the following record vote: 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 PNV and 2 absent.