SRC-AAA H.B. 2145 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2145
By: Solis (Luna)
Jurisprudence
5-1-97
Engrossed


DIGEST 

The jury pool of prospective jurors for each Texas county is composed by
using the list of  registered voters and, since 1991, the list of licensed
drivers provided by the Department of Public Safety.  This method of
composing a jury pool has increased the representation of all citizens on
a jury by enlarging the jury pool.  However,  certain large counties have
reported difficulties regarding the duplication of names and other
problems with  maintaining a pool derived from both these lists. H.B. 2145
will give a county or district clerk an added tool to manage a jury pool
and eliminate the duplication of an undeliverable summons while
maintaining the integrity of an expanded jury pool. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2145 authorizes  a county or district clerk to remove a
person's name from the jury wheel pool, if a written jury summons sent to
the person has been returned to the county or district clerk's office as
undeliverable. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 62A, Government Code, by adding Section 62.0145,
as follows: 

Sec. 62.0145.  REMOVAL OF CERTAIN PERSONS FROM POOL OF PROSPECTIVE JURORS.
Authorizes  a county or district clerk to remove a person's name from the
jury wheel pool, if a written jury summons sent to the person has been
returned to the county or district clerk's office as undeliverable. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.