S.B. No. 399
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to postponement of jury service in certain counties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 62, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 62.0144 to read as follows:
         Sec. 62.0144.  POSTPONEMENT OF JURY SERVICE IN CERTAIN
  COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a county:
               (1)  with a population of 1.4 million or more; and
               (2)  that has within its boundaries at least two
  municipalities that each have a population of 300,000 or more.
         (b)  A person summoned for jury service may request a
  postponement of the person's initial appearance for jury service.
  The person may request the postponement by contacting the clerk of
  the court, or the court's designee, in person, in writing, or by
  telephone before the date on which the person is summoned to appear.
         (c)  On receipt of a request under Subsection (b), the clerk
  of the court or the court's designee shall grant the person a
  postponement if:
               (1)  the person has not been granted a postponement in
  that county since the date on which the jury wheel from which the
  person was selected to appear was most recently reconstituted; and
               (2)  the person and the clerk or the court's designee
  determine a substitute date on which the person will appear for jury
  service that is not later than six months after the date on which
  the person was originally summoned to appear.
         (d)  A person who receives a postponement under Subsection
  (c) may request subsequent postponements in the manner described by
  Subsection (b). The clerk of the court or the court's designee may
  approve a subsequent postponement if the clerk or the court's
  designee determines that the person has a legitimate reason for
  requesting the postponement. Before the clerk or the court's
  designee may grant the subsequent postponement, the person and the
  clerk or the court's designee must determine a substitute date on
  which the person will appear for jury service that is not later than
  six months after the date on which the person was to appear after
  the later of:
               (1)  the postponement under Subsection (c); or
               (2)  the most recent postponement granted under this
  subsection.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a person summoned to appear for jury service who is required to
  appear on or after the effective date of this Act. A person
  summoned to appear for jury service who is required to appear before
  the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
  the date the person is required to appear, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 399 passed the Senate on
  April 12, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 399 passed the House on
  May 8, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, two present
  not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor