S.B. No. 264
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to jury service by deaf or hard of hearing persons.
    1-2        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-3        SECTION 1.  Section 62.1041, Government Code, is amended to
    1-4  read as follows:
    1-5        Sec. 62.1041.  DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING JUROR
    1-6  <DISQUALIFICATION FOR DEAFNESS>.  (a)  A deaf or hard of hearing
    1-7  person is not disqualified to serve as a juror solely because of
    1-8  hearing loss <deafness> except as provided by this section.
    1-9        (b)  A deaf or hard of hearing person is disqualified to
   1-10  serve as a juror if, in the opinion of the court, his hearing loss
   1-11  <deafness> renders him unfit to serve as a juror in that particular
   1-12  case.
   1-13        (c)  A deaf or hard of hearing person serving as a juror
   1-14  shall be reasonably accommodated in accordance with the Americans
   1-15  with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.).  An
   1-16  interpreter who is assisting a deaf or hard of hearing person
   1-17  serving as a juror may accompany the juror during all proceedings
   1-18  and deliberations in the case.
   1-19        (d)  If an interpreter is provided to a deaf or hard of
   1-20  hearing person serving as a juror in a district, county, or justice
   1-21  court, the county shall pay the cost of obtaining those services.
   1-22        (e)  A deaf or hard of hearing juror may request an auxiliary
   1-23  aid or service for a municipal court proceeding.  The city shall
   1-24  honor the request unless the city can demonstrate that another
    2-1  effective means of communication exists.  The city shall pay the
    2-2  cost unless the auxiliary aid or service will result in a
    2-3  fundamental alteration of the municipal court proceeding or in
    2-4  undue financial or administrative burdens.
    2-5        (f)  In this section, "deaf or hard of hearing" means having
    2-6  a hearing impairment, regardless of the existence of a speech
    2-7  impairment, that inhibits comprehension of an examination or
    2-8  proceeding or communication with others <person" has the meaning
    2-9  given by Section 21.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code>.
   2-10        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995, and
   2-11  applies only to persons summoned to appear for jury service or
   2-12  selected for jury service on or after that date.
   2-13        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   2-14  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   2-15  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-16  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-17  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.