By: Barrientos S.B. No. 1083 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the drawing of names of prospective jurors. 1-2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-3 SECTION 1. Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d), Section 1-4 62.004, Government Code, are amended to read as follows: 1-5 (a) The county clerk and the sheriff of the county shall 1-6 draw the names of the prospective jurors for a county court from 1-7 the jury wheel in the presence and under the direction of the 1-8 county judge. The district clerk and the sheriff or any constable 1-9 of the county shall draw the names of the prospective jurors for a 1-10 justice or a district court from the jury wheel in the presence and 1-11 under the direction of the district judge. 1-12 (b) The county or district clerk and the sheriff or 1-13 constable shall draw the names of prospective jurors from the jury 1-14 wheel after the wheel has been turned to thoroughly mix the jury 1-15 wheel cards and shall draw the names one by one if so directed by 1-16 the judge in whose presence the names are drawn. The names of 1-17 prospective jurors shall be drawn at least 10 days before the first 1-18 day of the term of court. 1-19 (c) The county or district clerk and the sheriff or 1-20 constable shall draw as many jury lists as are required for the 1-21 term of court. They shall record the names that are drawn on as 1-22 many lists as the judge in whose presence the names are drawn 1-23 considers necessary to ensure an adequate number of jurors for the 2-1 term. 2-2 (d) A deputy may represent the county or district clerk or 2-3 the sheriff or constable at the drawing. Other persons may be 2-4 present only as provided by this subchapter. 2-5 SECTION 2. Subsection (b), Section 62.015, Government Code, 2-6 is amended to read as follows: 2-7 (b) If the court at any time does not have a sufficient 2-8 number of prospective jurors present whose names are on the jury 2-9 lists and who are not excused by the judge from jury service, the 2-10 judge shall order the sheriff or constable to summon additional 2-11 prospective jurors to provide the requisite number of jurors for 2-12 the panel. The names of additional jurors to be summoned by the 2-13 sheriff or constable to fill a jury panel shall be drawn from the 2-14 jury wheel under orders of the judge. Additional jurors summoned 2-15 to fill a jury panel shall be discharged when their services are no 2-16 longer required. 2-17 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 2-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-22 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-23 passage, and it is so enacted.