By Duncan S.B. No. 395
77R2236 YDB-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the requirement that the Texas Judicial Council conduct
1-3 a statewide jury service study and report the results of the study
1-4 to the legislature.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 71, Government Code, is
1-7 amended by adding Section 71.037 to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 71.037. JURY SERVICE STUDY. (a) The council shall
1-9 conduct a study to examine jury service in each county of this
1-10 state.
1-11 (b) In conducting the study, the council shall collect and
1-12 examine:
1-13 (1) information relating to reimbursement of expenses
1-14 for jurors and other incentives for jury service; and
1-15 (2) demographic and statistical information from each
1-16 county relating to:
1-17 (A) the county's prospective jurors; and
1-18 (B) each person who has been summoned for jury
1-19 service, has appeared for jury service, and has served as a juror.
1-20 (c) The council shall seek the assistance of each county and
1-21 the National Center for State Courts.
1-22 (d) The council shall file a copy of the study, a summary of
1-23 the results of the study, and the council's recommendations with
1-24 the legislature not later than January 1, 2003.
2-1 (e) This section expires March 1, 2003.
2-2 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-3 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-4 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-5 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-6 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.