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78R10233 SLO-F
By: Rodriguez, Pena H.B. No. 2188
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to alternate methods of responding to a jury summons.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 62.0111 to read as follows:
Sec. 62.0111. COMPUTER OR TELEPHONE RESPONSE TO SUMMONS.
(a) A plan authorized under Section 62.011 for the selection of
names of prospective jurors may allow for a prospective juror to
appear in response to a summons by:
(1) contacting the county officer responsible for
summoning jurors by computer;
(2) calling an automated telephone system; or
(3) appearing before the court in person.
(b) A plan adopted under Subsection (a) may 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:
(1) information that permits the court to determine
whether the prospective juror is qualified for jury service under
Section 62.102;
(2) information that permits the court to determine
whether the prospective juror is exempt from jury service under
Section 62.106;
(3) submission of a request by the prospective juror
for a postponement of or excuse from jury service under Section
62.110;
(4) information for jury assignment under Section
62.016, including:
(A) the prospective juror's postponement status;
(B) if the prospective juror could potentially
serve on a jury in a justice court, the residency of the prospective
juror; and
(C) if the prospective juror could potentially
serve on a jury in a criminal matter, whether the prospective juror
has been convicted of misdemeanor theft;
(5) completion and submission by the prospective juror
of the written jury summons questionnaire under Section 62.0132;
(6) the prospective juror's electronic mail address;
and
(7) notification to the prospective juror by
electronic mail of:
(A) whether the prospective juror is qualified
for jury service;
(B) the status of the exemption, postponement, or
judicial excuse request of the prospective juror; or
(C) whether the prospective juror has been
assigned to a jury panel.
(c) The county officer responsible for summoning jurors
shall purge the electronic mail address of a prospective juror
collected under Subsection (b):
(1) if the prospective juror serves on a jury, not
later than the 30th day after the date that:
(A) the county sends the person payment for jury
service; or
(B) the county would otherwise send the person
payment for jury service, if the person has donated the payment
under Section 61.003; or
(2) if the prospective juror does not serve on a jury,
not later than the 30th day after the date that the court releases
the person from jury service.
(d) 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. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.