SRC-AAA S.B. 551 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 551 By: Brown Jurisprudence 2-25-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, those individuals 65 years of age and older may qualify as being exempt from serving on petit juries. Recent advances in medicine are changing the demographics of our country; thus, many federal and state laws are increasing the age for exemptions for the elderly. Also, many counties are experiencing difficulties in obtaining enough potential jurors to report when summoned. This bill changes the age from age 65 to 70 years of age in which a person qualified to serve on a petit jury may establish an exemption. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 551 exempts persons over 70 and persons who have served on a jury two years prior. 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 Section 62.106, Government Code, to exempt persons over 70, rather than 65, years of age from serving on a petit jury, and persons summoned for jury service in a county with a population of at least 200,000, unless the county uses a jury plan under Section 62.011 and the period authorized under Section 62.011(b)(5), Government Code, exceeds two years and the person has served on a petit jury during the preceding two years. SECTION 2. Amends Section 62.107(c), Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 3. Amends Section 62.108, Government Code, to make conforming changes. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1997. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 5. Emergency clause.