BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 229

By: Solomons

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, permanent exemptions to jury service are filed with the tax assessor-collector of a county, while general exemptions may be filed with the sheriff, tax assessor-collector, or a district or county clerk. Election law designates the voter registrar, the person who is responsible for selection of prospective jurors, as the tax assessor-collector, elections administrator, or the county clerk. H.B. 229 allows counties to improve the process by which exemptions to petit juries records are stored and used for jury selection by changing the duties of the county tax assessor-collector and voter registrar regarding exemptions from jury service.

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. 229 amends the Government Code to include a county voter registrar, rather than a county tax assessor-collector, as one of several entities with which a person claiming an exemption from petit jury service may file a sworn statement.

H.B. 229 specifies a county voter registrar, rather than a county tax assessor-collector, as the entity with which a person claiming a permanent exemption from petit jury service because the person is over 70 years of age may file a signed statement or, if a similar statement is filed with a clerk of the court, as the recipient of a copy of the statement.  The bill specifies the county voter registrar, rather than the county tax assessor-collector, as the entity required to maintain a current register relating to such permanent exemptions and as the entity with which a person who has claimed such a permanent exemption may file a request for rescission. 

H.B. 229 specifies a county voter registrar, rather than a county tax assessor-collector, as the recipient of certain information from the clerk of a district court regarding an exemption from petit jury service for a physical or mental impairment or an inability to comprehend or communicate in the English language, as the entity required to maintain a current register relating to such exemptions, and as the entity with which a person with such an exemption may file a request for rescission.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.