By Sadler H.B. No. 1498
74R1179 RJA-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to general qualifications for jury service.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 62.102, Government Code, is amended to
1-5 read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 62.102. General Qualifications for Jury Service. A
1-7 person is disqualified to serve as a petit juror unless he:
1-8 (1) is at least 18 years of age;
1-9 (2) is a citizen of this state and of the county in
1-10 which he is to serve as a juror;
1-11 (3) is qualified under the constitution and laws to
1-12 vote in the county in which he is to serve as a juror;
1-13 (4) is of sound mind and good moral character;
1-14 (5) is able to read and write;
1-15 (6) has not served as a petit juror for six days
1-16 during the preceding three months in the county court or during the
1-17 preceding six months in the district court;
1-18 (7) has not been convicted of theft or any <a> felony;
1-19 and
1-20 (8) is not under indictment or other legal accusation
1-21 of misdemeanor or felony theft or any other felony.
1-22 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995, and
1-23 applies only to qualifications for jury service for persons
1-24 summoned to appear for jury service on or after that date. The
2-1 qualification of a person summoned before the effective date of
2-2 this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date that the
2-3 person was summoned, and that law is continued in effect for that
2-4 purpose.
2-5 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-6 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-7 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-8 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-9 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.