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BILL ANALYSIS |
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By: Gallegos |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, a justice of the peace may only summon a prospective juror to the justice court in the precinct in which the prospective juror resides. Precincts in large counties vary widely in population. Because of the smaller number of potential jurors in some precincts, the county is required to reconstitute its jury wheel, from which jurors are summoned for all courts in the county, more often to ensure a sufficient number of prospective jurors to serve less populated precincts. Consequently, the citizens of populous counties find themselves summoned for jury service more frequently. Providing the county with a larger pool from which to draw prospective jurors to serve justice of the peace courts will extend the intervals between jury service for the citizens of such counties.
As proposed, S.B. 1274 authorizes a county with a population of 3.3 million or more to also summon prospective jurors to report directly to a justice court in the precinct adjacent to the precinct in which that person resides.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 62.412, Government Code, by adding Subsection (a-1), to authorize a county described in Subsection (a) (relating to a county that uses interchangeable juries) with a population of 3.3 million or more to also summon a prospective juror to report directly to a justice court in the precinct adjacent to the precinct in which that person resides.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage or September 1, 2009.