By Jones of Dallas                                     H.B. No. 654
       74R387 DRH-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to permitting a sequestered juror to vote on election day.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Chapter 276, Election Code, is amended by adding
    1-5  Section 276.009 to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 276.009.  VOTING BY SEQUESTERED JUROR.  (a)  The judge
    1-7  of a court that has issued an order that a jury not be allowed to
    1-8  separate shall permit a juror reasonable time to vote on election
    1-9  day.
   1-10        (b)  The court may provide the juror with a means of
   1-11  transportation to and from the appropriate polling place.
   1-12        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-13        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-14  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-15  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-16  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-17  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.