BILL ANALYSIS
By: Bohac
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, if a person indicates on an official jury summons that he is disqualified from jury service based on lack of U.S. citizenship, the clerk of the court must inform the voter registrar of the county. HB 1271 would expand this requirement to include persons claiming disqualification based on lack of residence. Names on the list of nonresidents could then be placed on the voter registrar's suspense list and their eligibility verified.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
The bill would require a notice on a written jury summons stating that by claiming a disqualification or exemption based on citizenship or residence a person might lose his eligibility to vote in that county.
The bill also requires the clerk of a court to maintain a list of nonresident respondents and to report this list to the voter registrar of the county.
The bill also amends the election code to include those who appear on the list of nonresidents respondents on the suspense list.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005