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


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 230
By: Ellis
Jurisprudence
3/9/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


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 would require the Office of Court Administration to
develop and maintain a model for a uniform written jury summons and an
accompanying questionnaire.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.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 (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.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  

Amends Section 62.0132, Government Code, to provide that information
contained in a completed questionnaire is confidential, providing certain
exceptions set forth in Subsection (g).  Deletes Subsections (c)(1)(F),
(c)(2), and (c)(3) regarding questionnaire information on the level of
proficiency in reading, speaking, and understanding the English language,
physical disabilities that may impair one's ability to serve on a jury, and
whether a person has been convicted of perjury.  Redesignates Subsections
(c)(1)(A)-(c)(1)(E) as Subsections (c)(1)-(c)(5). 

SECTION 2.  

Requires the model for the summons and questionnaire to be completed not
later than October 1, 2000, and distributed to each county not later than
November 1, 2000.  Requires a county to conform its written jury summons to
the model developed under this Act, along with the questionnaire, not later
than January 1, 2001.