BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 319

By: Raymond

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, a jury exemption can be provided for a person who has custody of a child under age 10 and whose service on the jury would require leaving the child without adequate supervision. However, under Texas law, a person with custody of a child can be punished for abandonment or endangerment of a child under age 15. The age discrepancy creates a burden on persons who are required to serve on a jury and who have custody of a child that falls within the age gap.

H.B. 319 provides that a person may be exempt from jury service if the person has custody of a child younger than 15 who would be left without adequate supervision if the person was required to serve on a jury.

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

H.B. 319 amends the Government Code to allow a person to be exempt from petit jury service who has custody of a child younger than 15, rather than 10, years of age, if such service would leave the child without adequate supervision.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.