82R8596 PMO-F
 
  By: Quintanilla H.B. No. 2009
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
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 62.0147 to read as follows:
         Sec. 62.0147.  MEANS OF POSTPONEMENT OF JURY SERVICE IN
  CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) This section applies only to a county that
  has:
               (1)  a council of judges composed of the judges of the
  district courts and county courts at law; and
               (2)  a designated jury duty court that addresses
  administrative matters related to jury service paid for by the
  county.
         (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 council
  of judges' 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
  council of judges' 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 designee and the person 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 is granted a postponement under Subsection
  (c) may request additional postponements in the manner described by
  Subsection (b).  The council of judges' designee may grant an
  additional postponement if the designee and the person determine
  that the person has a legitimate reason for the postponement.  
  Before the designee may grant the additional postponement, the
  designee and the person must determine a 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 the
  date of:
               (1)  a postponement under Subsection (c); or
               (2)  the last 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, 2011.