BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1780

By: Price

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, exemptions from jury service for officers or employees of the senate, the house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state government apply regardless of whether the jury summons occurs during a regular legislative session.  H.B. 1780 seeks to address this issue by providing that the exemption from jury duty for the described legislative employees can be claimed only during a regular legislative session or a special legislative session called by the governor. 

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. 1780 amends the Government Code to make the exemption from jury service for an officer or an employee of the senate, the house of representatives, or any department, commission, board, office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state government contingent on the person being required to appear for jury service on a date that is during a regular legislative session or a special legislative session called by the governor.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.