1-1  By:  Thompson (Senate Sponsor - Henderson)            H.B. No. 2098
    1-2        (In the Senate - Received from the House April 28, 1995;
    1-3  May 1, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on
    1-4  Jurisprudence; May 24, 1995, reported favorably by the following
    1-5  vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 24, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-6                         A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-7                                AN ACT
    1-8  relating to justice court juries in certain counties.
    1-9        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-10        SECTION 1.  Chapter 62, Government Code, is amended by adding
   1-11  Subchapter E to read as follows:
   1-12                  SUBCHAPTER E.  JUSTICE COURT JURIES
   1-13        Sec. 62.411.  JUSTICE COURT JURIES.  (a)  In addition to
   1-14  other methods of jury selection provided by this chapter, a justice
   1-15  of the peace may issue a writ commanding the sheriff or constable
   1-16  to immediately summon a venire from which six qualified persons may
   1-17  be selected for jury service if:
   1-18              (1)  a jury case is pending for trial at a term of
   1-19  justice court; or
   1-20              (2)  the court does not have a sufficient number of
   1-21  prospective jurors present whose names are on the jury list and who
   1-22  are not excused from jury service.
   1-23        (b)  Jurors who are empaneled shall remain in attendance in
   1-24  the court and, until discharged by the court, may serve as jurors
   1-25  in any case before the court.
   1-26        (c)  This section applies only in a county with a population
   1-27  of more than 2.8 million.
   1-28        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995, and
   1-29  applies only to juries summoned for service in justice courts on or
   1-30  after that date.
   1-31        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-32  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-33  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-34  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-35  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
   1-36                               * * * * *