H.B. No. 1665
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the penalty imposed on defaulting jurors.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 62.111, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 62.111.  PENALTY FOR DEFAULTING JURORS. A juror
  lawfully notified shall be fined not less than $100 [$10] nor more
  than $500 [$100] if the juror [he]:
               (1)  fails to attend court in obedience to the notice
  without reasonable excuse; or
               (2)  files a false claim of exemption from jury
  service.
         SECTION 2.  Article 19.16, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 19.16.  ABSENT JUROR FINED. A juror legally summoned,
  failing to attend without a reasonable excuse, may, by order of the
  court entered on the record, be fined not less than $100 [ten
  dollars] nor more than $500 [one hundred dollars].
         SECTION 3.  Article 35.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 35.01.  JURORS CALLED. When a case is called for trial
  and the parties have announced ready for trial, the names of those
  summoned as jurors in the case shall be called. Those not present
  may be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500 [not exceeding
  fifty dollars]. An attachment may issue on request of either party
  for any absent summoned juror, to have him brought forthwith before
  the court. A person who is summoned but not present, may upon an
  appearance, before the jury is qualified, be tried as to his
  qualifications and impaneled as a juror unless challenged, but no
  cause shall be unreasonably delayed on account of his absence.
         SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a juror who fails to attend or provides a false claim of
  exemption on or after the effective date of this Act. A violation
  that occurred before the effective date of this Act is governed by
  the law in effect when the violation occurred, and the former law is
  continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1665 was passed by the House on May
  15, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1665 was passed by the Senate on May
  25, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor