AN ACT
1-1 relating to sources of names for the jury wheel.
1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-3 SECTION 1. Subsections (a), (d), and (f), Section 62.001,
1-4 Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-5 (a) The jury wheel must be reconstituted by using, as the
1-6 source:
1-7 (1) the names of all persons on the current voter
1-8 registration lists from all the precincts in the county; and
1-9 (2) all names on a current list to be furnished by the
1-10 Department of Public Safety, showing the citizens of the county
1-11 who:
1-12 (A) hold a valid Texas driver's license or [and
1-13 the citizens of the county, other than persons who are disqualified
1-14 from jury service, who hold] a valid personal identification card
1-15 or certificate issued by the department; and
1-16 (B) are not disqualified from jury service under
1-17 Section 62.102(1), (2), or (7).
1-18 (d) The list required by Subsection (c) may exclude, at the
1-19 option of the voter registrar of each county, [must exclude the
1-20 names of convicted felons and] the names of persons on the suspense
1-21 list maintained under Section 15.081, Election Code [exempt from
1-22 jury service under Sections 62.108 and 62.109].
1-23 (f) The Department of Public Safety shall furnish a list to
2-1 the secretary of state that shows the names required under
2-2 Subsection (a)(2) and that contains any of the information
2-3 enumerated in Subsection (c) that is available to the department,
2-4 including citizenship status and county of residence. The list
2-5 shall exclude the names of convicted felons and persons residing
2-6 outside the county. The department shall furnish the list on or
2-7 before the first Monday in October of each year.
2-8 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
2-9 applies only to lists furnished by the Department of Public Safety
2-10 of the State of Texas or a voter registrar on or after the
2-11 effective date of this Act. Lists furnished by the department or a
2-12 voter registrar before the effective date of this Act are governed
2-13 by the law as it existed on the date the list was furnished, and
2-14 the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
2-15 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 231 passed the Senate on
February 17, 1997, by a viva-voce vote; and that the Senate
concurred in House amendment on May 15, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 231 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 13, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor