BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 866

By: Thompson, Ed

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that statutory exemptions from jury service include an exemption for the primary caretaker of an "invalid," which was a word commonly used in the past to refer to people with disabilities but that is no longer in common usage. The parties contend that this outdated word should be replaced with current, more sensitive language. H.B. 866 seeks to provide for this change.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 866 amends Government Code provisions establishing exemptions from jury service to revise the exemption for a primary caretaker of a person who is an invalid unable to take care of himself or herself by removing the specification that such a person is an invalid.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.