85R6340 CAE-D
By: Hernandez H.B. No. 1102
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to including on the jury wheel card the current phone
number, if available, of a person qualified to be included in the
jury selection process.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 62.001(c) and (i), Government Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(c) Each year not later than the third Tuesday in November
or the date provided by Section 16.032, Election Code, for the
cancellation of voter registrations, whichever is earlier, the
voter registrar of each county shall furnish to the secretary of
state a current voter registration list from all the precincts in
the county that, except as provided by Subsection (d), includes:
(1) the complete name, mailing address, date of birth,
voter registration number, and precinct number for each voter;
(2) if available, the Texas driver's license number or
personal identification card or certificate number, [and] social
security number, and telephone number for each voter; and
(3) any other information included on the voter
registration list of the county.
(i) The commissioners court may, instead of using the method
provided by Subsections (c) through (h), contract with another
governmental unit or a private person to combine the voter
registration list with the list furnished by the Department of
Public Safety. Subsections (c) through (h) do not apply to a county
in which the commissioners court has contracted with another
governmental unit or a private person under this subsection. The
Department of Public Safety may not charge a fee for furnishing a
list under this subsection. Each list must contain the name, date
of birth, address, county of residence, and citizenship status of
each person listed and if available, the telephone number of each
person. If practical, each list must contain any other information
useful in determining if the person is qualified to serve as a
juror.
SECTION 2. Section 62.002, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 62.002. JURY WHEEL CARDS. (a) The officials or their
deputies who reconstitute the jury wheel shall write on a separate
jury wheel card of uniform size and color the name and, if possible,
the post office address and telephone number of each prospective
juror that resides in the county and whose name appears on the
current lists used under Section 62.001. The name of each
prospective juror may appear on only one card.
(b) In a county with a population of 140,000 or more, the
commissioners court shall employ typists who shall type the names,
[and] addresses, and if available, telephone numbers of qualified
prospective jurors on separate jury wheel cards of uniform size and
color under the direction and control of the district clerk. The
expenses incurred in typing the names, [and] addresses, and
telephone numbers must be authorized, reported, and paid and
accounted for under the laws and rules that govern the payment of
other expenses of the office of district clerk. The compensation of
the typists and the expenses are paid from the jury fund.
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, 2017.