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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the duties of the county tax assessor-collector and |
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voter registrar regarding exemptions from jury service. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (c), Section 62.107, |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A person may also claim an exemption from jury service |
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under Section 62.106 by filing with the sheriff, voter registrar |
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[tax assessor-collector], or district or county clerk of the county
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of the person's [his] residence a sworn statement that sets forth
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the ground of and claims the exemption. The name of a person who |
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claims an [his] exemption by filing the sworn statement may not be
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placed in the jury wheel for the ensuing year. |
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(c) A person who files a statement with a clerk of the court, |
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as provided by Subsection (a), claiming an exemption because the |
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person is over 70 years of age, may also claim the permanent |
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exemption on that ground authorized by Section 62.108 by including |
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in the statement filed with the clerk a declaration that the person |
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desires the permanent exemption. Promptly after a statement |
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claiming a permanent exemption on the basis of age is filed, the |
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clerk of the court with whom it is filed shall have a copy delivered |
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to the voter registrar of the county [tax assessor-collector].
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SECTION 2. Subsections (b), (c), and (e), Section 62.108, |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A person may claim a permanent exemption: |
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(1) by filing with the voter registrar of the county
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[tax assessor-collector], by mail or personal delivery, a signed
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statement affirming that the person is over 70 years of age and |
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desires a permanent exemption on that ground; or |
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(2) in the manner provided by Section 62.107(c). |
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(c) The voter registrar of the county [tax |
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assessor-collector] shall maintain a current register indicating
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the name of each person who has claimed and is entitled to a |
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permanent exemption from jury service because the person is over 70 |
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years of age. |
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(e) A person who has claimed a permanent exemption from jury |
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service because the person is over 70 years of age may rescind the |
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exemption at any time by filing a signed request for the rescission |
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with the voter registrar of the county [tax assessor-collector].
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Rescission of a permanent exemption does not affect the right of a |
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person who is over 70 years of age to claim permanent exemption at a |
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later time. |
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SECTION 3. Subsections (c) and (e), Section 62.109, |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The clerk of the district court shall promptly notify |
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the voter registrar of the county [tax assessor-collector] of the
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name and address of each person exempted and state whether the |
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exemption is permanent or for a specified period. The voter |
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registrar [tax assessor-collector] shall maintain a current
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register showing separately the name and address of each person |
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permanently exempt from jury service under this section and the |
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name and address of each person exempt from jury service under this |
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section for a specified period. |
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(e) A person exempt from jury service under this section may |
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rescind the exemption at any time by filing a signed request for the |
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rescission with the voter registrar of the county [tax |
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assessor-collector].
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a person claiming an exemption from jury service or rescinding an |
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exemption from jury service on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. A person claiming an exemption from jury service or rescinding |
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an exemption from jury service before the effective date of this Act |
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is governed by the law in effect on the date the person claims or |
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rescinds the exemption, and the former law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |