By Goodman H.B. No. 769
76R1752 DB-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to sources of names for a jury wheel.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Sections 62.001(a), (c), and (d), Government
1-5 Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-6 (a) The jury wheel must be reconstituted by using[,] as the
1-7 source[:]
1-8 [(1)] the names of all persons on the current voter
1-9 registration lists from all the precincts in the county[; and]
1-10 [(2) all names on a current list to be furnished by
1-11 the Department of Public Safety, showing the citizens of the county
1-12 who:]
1-13 [(A) hold a valid Texas driver's license or a
1-14 valid personal identification card or certificate issued by the
1-15 department; and]
1-16 [(B) are not disqualified from jury service
1-17 under Section 62.102(1), (2), or (7)].
1-18 (c) Each year not later than the third Tuesday in November
1-19 or the date provided by Section 16.032, Election Code, for the
1-20 cancellation of voter registrations, whichever is earlier, the
1-21 county tax assessor-collector, sheriff, county clerk, and district
1-22 clerk in each county shall meet at the county courthouse and shall
1-23 reconstitute the jury wheel for the county. Each official may be
1-24 represented by a deputy [voter registrar of each county shall
2-1 furnish to the secretary of state a current voter registration list
2-2 from all the precincts in the county that, except as provided by
2-3 Subsection (d), includes:]
2-4 [(1) the complete name, mailing address, date of
2-5 birth, voter registration number, and precinct number for each
2-6 voter;]
2-7 [(2) if available, the Texas driver's license number
2-8 or personal identification card or certificate number and social
2-9 security number for each voter; and]
2-10 [(3) any other information included on the voter
2-11 registration list of the county].
2-12 (d) The voter registration list under [required by]
2-13 Subsection (a) [(c)] may exclude, at the option of the voter
2-14 registrar of each county, the names of persons on the suspense list
2-15 maintained under Section 15.081, Election Code.
2-16 SECTION 2. Sections 62.001(e)-(i) and 62.011(d), Government
2-17 Code, are repealed.
2-18 SECTION 3. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-19 (b) The changes in law made by this Act relating to jury
2-20 service apply only to persons summoned to appear for jury service
2-21 after a jury wheel has been constituted for the county under
2-22 Chapter 62, Government Code, as amended by this Act. A jury wheel
2-23 constituted before the effective date of this Act may be used until
2-24 reconstitution of the jury wheel under Chapter 62, Government Code,
2-25 as amended by this Act.
2-26 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-27 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.