By Hinojosa H.B. No. 2417
76R6374 DB-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to allowing a county to reconstitute the jury wheel solely
1-3 with voters who are registered in the county.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 62.001, Government Code, is amended by
1-6 amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (j) to read
1-7 as follows:
1-8 (a) Except as provided by Subsection (j), the [The] jury
1-9 wheel must be reconstituted by using, as the source:
1-10 (1) the names of all persons on the current voter
1-11 registration lists from all the precincts in the county; and
1-12 (2) all names on a current list to be furnished by the
1-13 Department of Public Safety, showing the citizens of the county
1-14 who:
1-15 (A) hold a valid Texas driver's license or a
1-16 valid personal identification card or certificate issued by the
1-17 department; and
1-18 (B) are not disqualified from jury service under
1-19 Section 62.102(1), (2), or (7).
1-20 (b) Notwithstanding Subsections [Subsection] (a) and (j),
1-21 the names of persons listed on a register of persons exempt from
1-22 jury service may not be placed in the jury wheel, as provided by
1-23 Sections 62.108 and 62.109.
1-24 (j) On approval of the commissioners court, a jury wheel may
2-1 be reconstituted by using, as the only source, the names of all
2-2 persons on the current voter registration lists from all precincts
2-3 in the county.
2-4 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-5 (b) The changes in the law made by this Act relating to jury
2-6 service apply only to persons summoned to appear for jury service
2-7 after a jury wheel has been constituted for the county under
2-8 Chapter 62, Government Code, as amended by this Act. A jury wheel
2-9 constituted before the effective date of this Act may be used until
2-10 reconstitution of the jury wheel under Chapter 62, Government Code,
2-11 as amended by this Act.
2-12 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.