84R892 KFF-D
By: Fletcher H.B. No. 1313
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to ensuring the removal of the names of deceased persons
from the jury wheel.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 62.001, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as
follows:
(a) The jury wheel must be reconstituted by using, as the
source:
(1) the names of all persons on the current voter
registration lists from all the precincts in the county; and
(2) all names on a current list to be furnished by the
Department of Public Safety, showing the citizens of the county
who:
(A) subject to Subsection (b-1), hold a valid
Texas driver's license or a valid personal identification card or
certificate issued by the department; and
(B) are not disqualified from jury service under
Section 62.102(1), (2), or (7).
(b-1) The Department of Public Safety shall exclude from the
list furnished under Subsection (a) the names of persons who are
deceased.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 62.0015 to read as follows:
Sec. 62.0015. REMOVAL OF DECEASED PERSONS FROM JURY WHEEL.
(a) At least quarterly, the secretary of state shall furnish to the
Department of Public Safety information obtained under Section
16.001, Election Code, relating to deceased residents of the state
that will assist the department in ensuring the accuracy of names
provided for the jury wheel under Section 62.001(a)(2) by allowing
the department to exclude from the list furnished under that
subsection the names of deceased persons as required by Section
62.001(b-1).
(b) Using information obtained by the secretary of state
under Section 16.001, Election Code, the secretary shall establish
a method of informing county and district clerks regarding the
deaths of persons who resided in the counties served by the clerks
for purposes of Subsection (c).
(c) The county or district clerk shall remove from the jury
wheel the jury wheel card of a deceased person or remove a deceased
person's name from the record of names for selection of persons for
jury service under Section 62.011.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.