By Solomons H.B. No. 82
76R1453 MLS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to selection and service of jurors in certain counties.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 62.001, Government Code, is amended by
1-5 adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
1-6 (j) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), in a county with a
1-7 population of 250,000 or more, the names of persons who are
1-8 summoned for jury service in the county and who appear for service
1-9 must be removed from the jury wheel and may not be maintained in
1-10 the jury wheel until the third anniversary of the date the person
1-11 appeared for service. This subsection applies regardless of
1-12 whether the person served on a jury as a result of the summons.
1-13 SECTION 2. Section 62.106, Government Code, is amended to
1-14 read as follows:
1-15 Sec. 62.106. EXEMPTION FROM JURY SERVICE. A person
1-16 qualified to serve as a petit juror may establish an exemption from
1-17 jury service if the person:
1-18 (1) is over 70 years of age;
1-19 (2) has legal custody of a child or children younger
1-20 than 10 years of age and the person's service on the jury requires
1-21 leaving the child or children without adequate supervision;
1-22 (3) is a student of a public or private secondary
1-23 school;
1-24 (4) is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at
2-1 an institution of higher education;
2-2 (5) is an officer or an employee of the senate, the
2-3 house of representatives, or any department, commission, board,
2-4 office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state
2-5 government;
2-6 (6) is summoned for service in a county with a
2-7 population of at least 200,000, unless that county uses a jury plan
2-8 under Section 62.011 and the period authorized under Section
2-9 62.011(b)(5) exceeds two years, and the person has served as a
2-10 petit juror in the county during the 24-month period preceding the
2-11 date the person is to appear for jury service; [or]
2-12 (7) is the primary caretaker of a person who is an
2-13 invalid unable to care for himself; or
2-14 (8) is summoned for service in a county with a
2-15 population of at least 250,000 and the person has served as a petit
2-16 juror in the county during the three-year period preceding the date
2-17 the person is to appear for jury service.
2-18 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-19 SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
2-20 a person summoned to appear for jury service on or after the
2-21 effective date of this Act.
2-22 SECTION 5. The importance of this legislation and the
2-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.