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.