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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to ensuring the removal of the names of deceased persons |
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from the jury wheel. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 62.001, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The jury wheel must be reconstituted by using, as the |
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source: |
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(1) the names of all persons on the current voter |
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registration lists from all the precincts in the county; and |
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(2) all names on a current list to be furnished by the |
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Department of Public Safety, showing the citizens of the county |
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who: |
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(A) subject to Subsection (b-1), hold a valid |
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Texas driver's license or a valid personal identification card or |
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certificate issued by the department; and |
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(B) are not disqualified from jury service under |
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Section 62.102(1), (2), or (7). |
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(b-1) The Department of Public Safety shall exclude from the |
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list furnished under Subsection (a) the names of persons who are |
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deceased. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 62.0015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.0015. REMOVAL OF DECEASED PERSONS FROM JURY WHEEL. |
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(a) At least quarterly, the secretary of state shall furnish to the |
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Department of Public Safety information obtained under Section |
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16.001, Election Code, relating to deceased residents of the state |
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that will assist the department in ensuring the accuracy of names |
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provided for the jury wheel under Section 62.001(a)(2) by allowing |
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the department to exclude from the list furnished under that |
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subsection the names of deceased persons as required by Section |
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62.001(b-1). |
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(b) Using information obtained by the secretary of state |
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under Section 16.001, Election Code, the secretary shall establish |
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a method of informing county and district clerks regarding the |
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deaths of persons who resided in the counties served by the clerks |
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for purposes of Subsection (c). |
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(c) The county or district clerk shall remove from the jury |
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wheel the jury wheel card of a deceased person or remove a deceased |
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person's name from the record of names for selection of persons for |
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jury service under Section 62.011. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |