SRC-JJJ S.B. 230 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 230
By: Ellis
Jurisprudence
7/21/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, there is no uniform jury summons for all counties in the State
of Texas.  The Texas Supreme Court Jury Task Force studied the issue of
jury summons, and recommends that all counties use the same type and style
of jury summons in order to provide the same information to all prospective
jurors.  This bill will require the Office of Court Administration to
develop and maintain a model for a uniform written jury summons and an
accompanying questionnaire.  

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 230 requires the Office of Court Administration to
develop and maintain a model for a uniform jury summons and questionnaire. 

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 Chapter 62A, Government Code, by adding Sections 62.0131
and 62.0132, as follows: 

Sec. 62.0131.  FORM OF WRITTEN JURY SUMMONS.  Requires the Office of Court
Administration of the Texas Judicial System (office) to develop and
maintain a model for a uniform written jury summons. Requires the model to
include exemptions and restrictions governing jury service under Subchapter
B.  Requires the written jury summons to conform with the model established
under this section.  Requires the office to solicit and consider  the
opinions of the members of the judiciary and attorneys in the developing
and maintaining the model. 

Sec. 62.0132.  WRITTEN JURY SUMMONS QUESTIONNAIRE.  Requires the office to
develop and maintain a questionnaire to accompany a written jury summons.
Requires a person to provide certain biographical and demographic
information that is relevant to service as a jury member.  Sets forth
information required on the questionnaire.  Requires a person who has
received a written jury summons and a written jury summons questionnaire to
complete and submit the questionnaire when the person reports for jury
duty.  Requires the office to solicit and consider the opinion of members
of the judiciary and attorneys in developing and maintaining the
questionnaire.  Provides that information contained in the completed
questionnaire is confidential, except as provided by Subsection (g).  Sets
forth the individuals  to whom the information contained in a completed
questionnaire may be disclosed. 

SECTION 2.  (a)  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

(b)  Requires the Office of Court Administration to complete the model for
the summons and the questionnaire required by this Act not later than
October 1, 2000, and to distribute the model and questionnaire not later
than November 1, 2000. 

(c)  Requires a county to conform its written jury summons to the model
developed under  this Act not later than January 1, 2001.  Requires a
county to include the questionnaire developed under this Act with its
written jury summons not later than January 1, 2001. 

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.