By Goodman H.B. No. 310
75R1876 MWV-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to sources of names for a jury wheel.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Sections 62.001(a), (c), and (d), Government
1-5 Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-6 (a) The jury wheel must be reconstituted by using[,] as the
1-7 source[:]
1-8 [(1)] the names of all persons on the current voter
1-9 registration lists from all the precincts in the county except as
1-10 provided by Subsection (d)[; and]
1-11 [(2) all names on a current list to be furnished by
1-12 the Department of Public Safety, showing the citizens of the county
1-13 who hold a valid Texas driver's license and the citizens of the
1-14 county, other than persons who are disqualified from jury service,
1-15 who hold a valid personal identification card or certificate issued
1-16 by the department].
1-17 (c) Each year not later than the third Tuesday in November
1-18 or the date provided by Section 16.032, Election Code, for the
1-19 cancellation of voter registrations, whichever is earlier, the
1-20 county tax assessor-collector, sheriff, county clerk, and district
1-21 clerk in each county shall meet at the county courthouse and shall
1-22 reconstitute the jury wheel for the county. Each official may be
1-23 represented by a deputy [voter registrar of each county shall
1-24 furnish to the secretary of state a current voter registration list
2-1 from all the precincts in the county that, except as provided by
2-2 Subsection (d), includes:]
2-3 [(1) the complete name, mailing address, date of
2-4 birth, voter registration number, and precinct number for each
2-5 voter;]
2-6 [(2) if available, the Texas driver's license number
2-7 or personal identification card or certificate number and social
2-8 security number for each voter; and]
2-9 [(3) any other information included on the voter
2-10 registration list of the county].
2-11 (d) A jury wheel may exclude, at the option of the voter
2-12 registrar of each county, the names of persons on the suspense list
2-13 maintained under Section 15.081, Election Code [The list required
2-14 by Subsection (c) must exclude the names of convicted felons and
2-15 the names of persons exempt from jury service under Sections 62.108
2-16 and 62.109].
2-17 SECTION 2. Sections 62.001(e)-(i), Government Code, are
2-18 repealed.
2-19 SECTION 3. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-20 (b) The changes in law made by this Act relating to jury
2-21 service apply only to persons summoned to appear for jury service
2-22 after a jury wheel has been constituted for the county under
2-23 Chapter 62, Government Code, as amended by this Act. A jury wheel
2-24 constituted before the effective date of this Act may be used until
2-25 reconstitution of the jury wheel under Chapter 62, Government Code,
2-26 as amended by this Act.
2-27 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-1 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-2 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-3 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-4 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.