88R8768 JTZ-F
	By: Hayes	H.B. No. 4674

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the qualifications, summoning, and reimbursement of
	jurors.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Sections 61.003(a) and (b), Government Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Each [After jury service is concluded, each] person who
	reports [reported] for jury service shall be [personally] provided
	the opportunity, either through a written form or electronically,
	to direct [a form letter that when signed by the person directs] the
	county treasurer or a designated county employee to donate all,
	[or] a specific amount designated by the person, or the entire
	amount divided among the funds, programs, and county entities
	listed in this subsection of the person's daily reimbursement under
	this chapter to:
	(1)  the compensation to victims of crime fund
	established under Subchapter J, Chapter 56B, Code of Criminal
	Procedure;
	(2)  the child welfare, child protective services, or
	child services board of the county appointed under Section 264.005,
	Family Code, that serves abused and neglected children;
	(3)  any program selected by the commissioners court
	that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and
	that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence;
	(4)  any other program approved by the commissioners
	court of the county, including a program established under Article
	56A.205, Code of Criminal Procedure, that offers psychological
	counseling in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or
	testimony;
	(5)  a veterans treatment court program established by
	the commissioners court as provided by Chapter 124; or
	(6)  a veterans county service office established by
	the commissioners court as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 434.
	(b)  The county treasurer or a designated county employee
	shall collect any information provided under Subsection (a) [each
	form letter] directing the county treasurer to donate the
	reimbursement of a person who reports for jury service.
	SECTION 2.  Sections 62.001(a) and (b), Government Code, are
	amended 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)  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 (8) [(7)].
	(b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the names of persons
	listed on a register of persons exempt from jury service may not be
	placed in the jury wheel, as provided by Sections 62.108, [and]
	62.109, 62.113, 62.114, and 62.115.
	SECTION 3.  Section 62.0111(b), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  A plan adopted under Subsection (a) may allow for a
	prospective juror to provide information to the county officer
	responsible for summoning jurors or for the county officer to
	provide information to the prospective juror by computer or
	automated telephone system, including:
	(1)  information that permits the court to determine
	whether the prospective juror is qualified for jury service under
	Section 62.102;
	(2)  information that permits the court to determine
	whether the prospective juror is exempt from jury service under
	Section 62.106;
	(3)  submission of a request by the prospective juror
	for a postponement of or excuse from jury service under Section
	62.110;
	(4)  information for jury assignment under Section
	62.016, including:
	(A)  the prospective juror's postponement status;
	(B)  if the prospective juror could potentially
	serve on a jury in a justice court, the residency of the prospective
	juror; and
	(C)  if the prospective juror could potentially
	serve on a jury in a criminal matter, whether the prospective juror
	has been convicted of misdemeanor theft;
	(5)  completion and submission by the prospective juror
	of the written juror [jury summons] questionnaire under Section
	62.0132;
	(6)  the prospective juror's electronic mail address;
	and
	(7)  notification to the prospective juror by
	electronic mail of:
	(A)  whether the prospective juror is qualified
	for jury service;
	(B)  the status of the exemption, postponement, or
	judicial excuse request of the prospective juror; or
	(C)  whether the prospective juror has been
	assigned to a jury panel.
	SECTION 4.  Section 62.012(b), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  On receiving the notice from the judge, the clerk shall
	immediately write on the jury list the date that the prospective
	jurors are to be summoned to appear and shall either:
	(1)  summon the prospective jurors directly in the same
	manner a sheriff or constable would summon a juror under Section
	62.013; or
	(2)  deliver the jury list to:
	(A) [(1)]  the sheriff, for a county or district
	court jury; or
	(B) [(2)]  the sheriff or constable, for a justice
	court jury.
	SECTION 5.  The heading to Section 62.013, Government Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 62.013.  SUMMONS FOR JURY SERVICE BY CLERK, SHERIFF, OR
	CONSTABLE.
	SECTION 6.  Sections 62.013(a) and (b), Government Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Except as provided by Section 62.014, the clerk,
	sheriff, or constable, on receipt of a jury list from a county or
	district clerk, shall immediately notify the persons whose names
	are on the list to appear for jury service on the date designated by
	the judge.
	(b)  The clerk, sheriff, or constable shall notify each
	prospective juror to appear for jury service:
	(1)  by an oral summons; or
	(2)  if the judge ordering the summons so directs, by a
	written summons sent by registered mail or certified mail, return
	receipt requested, or by first class mail to the address on the jury
	wheel card or the address on the current voter registration list of
	the county.
	SECTION 7.  Sections 62.0131(b) and (c), Government Code,
	are amended to read as follows:
	(b)  The model must include:
	(1)  the option to provide:
	(A)  the exemptions and restrictions governing
	jury service under Subchapter B; or
	(B)  the electronic address of the court's
	Internet website on which is posted the exemptions and restrictions
	governing jury service under Subchapter B; [and]
	(2)  the information under Chapter 122, Civil Practice
	and Remedies Code, relating to the duties of an employer with regard
	to an employee who is summoned for jury service;
	(3)  notice of the contempt action to which the person
	summoned for jury service is subject under Section 62.0141 for
	failure to comply with the jury summons; and
	(4)  the option to:
	(A)  include in the jury summons the juror
	questionnaire required by Section 62.0132;
	(B)  provide the electronic address of the court's
	Internet website from which the juror questionnaire may be easily
	printed; or
	(C)  in counties in which the district and
	criminal district judges adopted a plan for an electronic jury
	selection method under Section 62.011, provide the electronic
	address of the court's Internet website for the prospective juror
	to access and complete the juror questionnaire.
	(c)  A written jury summons must conform with the model
	established under this section and must be 3-1/2 by 5 inches or
	larger in size.
	SECTION 8.  The heading to Section 62.0132, Government Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 62.0132.  JUROR [WRITTEN JURY SUMMONS] QUESTIONNAIRE.
	SECTION 9.  Sections 62.0132(c) and (d), Government Code,
	are amended to read as follows:
	(c)  The questionnaire must require a person to provide
	biographical and demographic information that is relevant to
	service as a jury member, including the person's:
	(1)  name, sex, race, and age;
	(2)  residence address and mailing address;
	(3)  education level, occupation, and place of
	employment;
	(4)  marital status and the name, occupation, and place
	of employment of the person's spouse; [and]
	(5)  citizenship status and county of residence; and
	(6)  any electronic address.
	(d)  Except as provided by this subsection, a person who has
	received a [written] jury summons shall complete and submit a juror
	[jury summons] questionnaire when the person reports for jury duty.
	If the district and criminal district judges of a county adopt a
	plan for an electronic jury selection method under Section 62.011,
	the county may allow a person to complete and submit a juror [jury
	summons] questionnaire on the court's Internet website as
	authorized under Section 62.0111(b)(5).
	SECTION 10.  The heading to Section 62.014, Government Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 62.014.  SUMMONS FOR JURY SERVICE BY CLERKS, SHERIFFS,
	OR BAILIFFS.
	SECTION 11.  Section 62.014(a), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  In a county with at least nine district courts, the
	district judges may direct that prospective jurors be summoned for
	jury service by the clerk, the sheriff, or [by] a bailiff, or an
	assistant or deputy bailiff, in charge of the central jury room and
	the general panel of the county.
	SECTION 12.  Section 62.0145, Government Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 62.0145.  REMOVAL OF CERTAIN PERSONS FROM POOL OF
	PROSPECTIVE JURORS.  Except as provided by Section 62.0146, if a
	written summons for jury service sent by a clerk, sheriff,
	constable, or bailiff is undeliverable, the county or district
	clerk may remove from the jury wheel the jury wheel card for the
	person summoned or the district clerk, or in a county with a
	population of at least 1.7 million and in which more than 75 percent
	of the population resides in a single municipality, a bailiff
	appointed as provided under Section 62.019, may remove the person's
	name from the record of names for selection of persons for jury
	service under Section 62.011.
	SECTION 13.  Section 62.0146, Government Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 62.0146.  UPDATING ADDRESSES OF CERTAIN PERSONS IN POOL
	OF PROSPECTIVE JURORS. If a written summons for jury service sent
	by a clerk, sheriff, constable, or bailiff is returned with a
	notation from the United States Postal Service of a change of
	address for the person summoned, the county or district clerk may
	update the jury wheel card to reflect the person's new address.
	SECTION 14.  Section 62.015(b), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  If the court at any time does not have a sufficient
	number of prospective jurors present whose names are on the jury
	lists and who are not excused by the judge from jury service, the
	judge shall order the clerk, sheriff, or constable to summon
	additional prospective jurors to provide the requisite number of
	jurors for the panel. The names of additional jurors to be summoned
	by the clerk, sheriff, or constable to fill a jury panel shall be
	drawn from the jury wheel under orders of the judge. Additional
	jurors summoned to fill a jury panel shall be discharged when their
	services are no longer required.
	SECTION 15.  Section 62.016(d), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(d)  The clerk or sheriff shall notify the persons whose
	names are drawn from the jury wheel to appear before the designated
	judge for jury service. The judge shall hear the excuses of the
	prospective jurors and swear them in for jury service for the week
	for which they are to serve as jurors.
	SECTION 16.  Section 62.017(d), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(d)  The clerk or sheriff shall notify the persons whose
	names are drawn from the jury wheel to appear before the designated
	judge for jury service. The judge shall hear the excuses of the
	prospective jurors and swear them in for jury service for the week
	for which they are to serve as jurors.
	SECTION 17.  Section 62.0175(d), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(d)  The clerk or sheriff shall notify the persons whose
	names are drawn from the jury wheel to appear before the district
	judge for jury service.  The judge shall hear the excuses of the
	prospective jurors and swear them in for jury service for the week
	for which they are to serve as jurors.
	SECTION 18.  Section 62.109(c), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(c)  The clerk of the district court shall promptly notify
	the voter registrar of the county of the name and address of each
	person permanently exempted [and state whether the exemption is
	permanent or for a specified period].  The voter registrar shall
	maintain a current register showing [separately] the name and
	address of each person permanently exempt from jury service under
	this section [and the name and address of each person exempt from
	jury service under this section for a specified period].
	SECTION 19.  Subchapter B, Chapter 62, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 62.115 to read as follows:
	Sec. 62.115.  COMPILATION OF LIST OF CONVICTED PERSONS. (a)
	The clerk of the court shall maintain a list of the name and address
	of each person who is disqualified under this subchapter from jury
	service because the person was convicted of misdemeanor theft or a
	felony.
	(b)  A person who was convicted of misdemeanor theft or a
	felony shall be permanently disqualified from serving as a juror. A
	person is exempt from this section if the person:
	(1)  was placed on deferred adjudication and received a
	dismissal and discharge in accordance with Article 42A.111, Code of
	Criminal Procedure;
	(2)  was placed on community supervision and the period
	of community supervision was terminated early under Article
	42A.701, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
	(3)  was pardoned or has had the person's civil rights
	restored.
	(c)  The district clerk may remove from the jury wheel the
	jury wheel card for the person whose name appears on the list.
	(d)  On the third business day of each month, the clerk shall
	send to the secretary of state a copy of the list of persons
	disqualified because of a conviction of misdemeanor theft or a
	felony in the preceding month.
	SECTION 20.  Section 62.411(a), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  In addition to other methods of jury selection provided
	by this chapter, a justice of the peace may issue a writ commanding
	the clerk, sheriff, or constable to immediately summon a venire
	from which six qualified persons may be selected for jury service
	if:
	(1)  a jury case is pending for trial at a term of
	justice court; or
	(2)  the court does not have a sufficient number of
	prospective jurors present whose names are on the jury list and who
	are not excused from jury service.
	SECTION 21.  Section 62.412(c), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(c)  A justice of the peace may command the clerk, sheriff,
	or constable to immediately summon additional persons for jury
	service in the justice court if the number of qualified jurors,
	including persons summoned under Section 62.016, is less than the
	number necessary for the justice court to conduct its proceedings.
	SECTION 22.  Sections 62.0111(c) and 62.0132(b), Government
	Code, are repealed.
	SECTION 23.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.