SRC-VRA H.B. 2188 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 2188
By: Rodriguez (Wentworth)
Jurisprudence
5/19/2003
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In March 2002, Travis County implemented the I-Jury pilot program.  Under
I-Jury, a summoned juror can use a secure web site to complete a form that
captures all of the information necessary to qualify the juror, screen for
excuses, request scheduling accommodations, and complete the standard
juror questionnaire.  Those using I-Jury are contacted by email with a
specific reporting date and court, and in the event a trial is cancelled,
the jurors are released from service without having to appear.  The I-Jury
program has saved Travis County over $100,000 since its inception, because
the county is not obligated to pay jurors who do not appear.  H.B. 2188
will permit, but not require, any county in Texas to set up a system
similar to I-Jury. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Government Code, by adding
Section 62.0111, as follows: 
 
Sec. 62.0111.  COMPUTER OR TELEPHONE RESPONSE TO SUMMONS.  (a) Authorizes
a plan authorized under Section 62.011 for the selection of names of
prospective jurors to allow for a prospective juror to appear by certain
means in response to a summons. 
  
(b)  Authorizes a plan adopted under Subsection (a) to allow for a
prospective juror to provide information to the county officer responsible
for summoning jurors or for the county officer to provide information to
the prospective juror by computer or automated telephone system, including
certain information. 
  
(c)  Requires the county officer responsible for summoning jurors to purge
the electronic mail address of a prospective juror collected under
Subsection (b) if certain conditions are met. 
 
(d)  Provides that to the extent practicable, the ratio of prospective
jurors assigned to a particular jury panel who appear in response to a
summons by contacting the county officer responsible for summoning jurors
by computer or calling an automated telephone system to prospective jurors
who appear in person must equal the ratio of all prospective jurors
assigned to a jury panel at the same time who appear by computer or
automated telephone system to prospective jurors who appear in person. 
 
SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.



 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
Committee Amendment No. 1:

Amend H.B. No. 2188 in SECTION 1 of the bill (house engrossment, page 3)
by striking lines 11-18.