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.