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78R6845 SLO-F

By:  Wentworth                                                    S.B. No. 1709



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 district clerk 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 district clerk or 
for the clerk 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 district clerk 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 district clerk 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.