SRC-JLB S.B. 518 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 518
78R829 KLA-DBy: Duncan
Jurisprudence
2/27/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, petit juror qualifications are not in line with other state
statutes.  Statutes governing all other jurors, whether grand jurors or
petit jurors in criminal cases, already disqualify a person who has been
convicted of misdemeanor theft.  As proposed, S.B. 518 changes the
qualifications for petit jurors in civil cases to exclude persons who have
been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony theft, or any other theft.  

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 62.102, Government Code, as follows:

Sec.  62.102.  GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR JURY SERVICE.  Adds conviction
of misdemeanor or felony theft to the list of reasons for which a person
is disqualified from serving as a petit juror.  Makes nonsubstantive
changes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 62.102, Government Code, to make application of
this Act prospective. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.