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.