SRC-VRA H.B. 2923 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2923
78R15224EBy: Marchant (Averitt)
Jurisprudence
5/20/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The right to a jury trial is often cited as one of our most fundamental
rights.  H.B. 2923 encourages jury service by lessening the burden of jury
service on citizens. 

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 Section 62.0141, Government Code, to provide that in
addition to any criminal penalty prescribed by law, a person summoned for
jury service who does not comply with the summons as required by law or
who knowingly provides false information in a request for an exemption or
to be excused from jury service is subject to a contempt action punishable
by a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000. 
 
SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Government Code, by adding
Sections 62.0142 and 62.022 , as follows: 
 
Sec. 62.0142.  POSTPONEMENT OF JURY SERVICE.  (a)  Authorizes a person
summoned for jury service to request a postponement of the person's
initial appearance for jury service.  Authorizes the person to request the
postponement by contacting the clerk of the court in person, in writing,
or by telephone before the date on which the person is summoned to appear. 
 
(b)  Requires the clerk of the court, on receipt of a request under
Subsection (a), to grant the person a postponement if certain conditions
are met. 

(c)  Authorizes a person who receives a postponement under Subsection (b)
to request a subsequent postponement in the manner described by Subsection
(a). Authorizes the clerk of the court to approve the subsequent
postponement only because of an extreme emergency that could not have been
anticipated, such as a death in the person's family, sudden serious
illness suffered by the person, or a natural disaster or national
emergency in which the person is personally involved. Provides that before
the clerk may grant the subsequent postponement, the person and the clerk
must determine a substitute date on which the person will appear for jury
service that is not later than six months after the date on which the
person was to appear after the postponement under Subsection (b). 
 
Sec. 62.022.  LIMITATION ON LENGTH OF SERVICE.  Provides that a person is
not required to appear for jury service for more than one day unless the
person is selected to serve on a particular jury or is being considered to
serve on a particular jury.  Requires a juror, once selected, to serve on
the jury until the jury renders a verdict, unless excused by the court. 
 
SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective.
 
 SECTION 4.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.