By Thompson                                           H.B. No. 2098
       74R4538 MLR-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to justice court juries.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Chapter 62, Government Code, is amended by adding
    1-5  Subchapter E to read as follows:
    1-6                  SUBCHAPTER E.  JUSTICE COURT JURIES
    1-7        Sec. 62.411.  JUSTICE COURT JURIES.  (a)  In addition to
    1-8  other methods of jury selection provided by this chapter, a justice
    1-9  of the peace may issue a writ commanding the proper officer to
   1-10  immediately summon a venire from which six qualified persons may be
   1-11  selected for jury service if:
   1-12              (1)  a jury case is pending for trial at a term of
   1-13  justice court; or
   1-14              (2)  the court does not have a sufficient number of
   1-15  prospective jurors present whose names are on the jury list and who
   1-16  are not excused from jury service.
   1-17        (b)  Jurors who are empaneled shall remain in attendance in
   1-18  the court and, until discharged by the court, may serve as jurors
   1-19  in any case before the court.
   1-20        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995, and
   1-21  applies only to juries summoned for service in justice courts on or
   1-22  after that date.
   1-23        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-24  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-1  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-2  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-3  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.