BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2747

By: Landgraf

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In relation to the qualifications for petit jury service, there is concern about the impact of a person summoned for jury service indicating that the person is no longer a resident of the summoning county. C.S.H.B. 2747 seeks to remedy this situation by ensuring that potential jurors are afforded the opportunity to correctly note their county of residence.

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

C.S.H.B. 2747 amends the Government Code to add U.S. citizenship to the list of qualifications to serve as a petit juror. The bill changes the qualification relating to the person's relationship to the state and the county from requiring the person to be a citizen of Texas and the summoning county to requiring the person to be a resident of Texas and the summoning county.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2747 differs from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways by conforming to certain bill drafting conventions.