S.B. No. 85
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the duties of the county tax assessor-collector and
  voter registrar regarding exemptions from jury service.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subsections (b) and (c), Section 62.107,
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A person may also claim an exemption from jury service
  under Section 62.106 by filing with the sheriff, voter registrar
  [tax assessor-collector], or district or county clerk of the county
  of the person's [his] residence a sworn statement that sets forth
  the ground of and claims the exemption. The name of a person who
  claims an [his] exemption by filing the sworn statement may not be
  placed in the jury wheel for the ensuing year.
         (c)  A person who files a statement with a clerk of the court,
  as provided by Subsection (a), claiming an exemption because the
  person is over 70 years of age, may also claim the permanent
  exemption on that ground authorized by Section 62.108 by including
  in the statement filed with the clerk a declaration that the person
  desires the permanent exemption. Promptly after a statement
  claiming a permanent exemption on the basis of age is filed, the
  clerk of the court with whom it is filed shall have a copy delivered
  to the voter registrar of the county [tax assessor-collector].
         SECTION 2.  Subsections (b), (c), and (e), Section 62.108,
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A person may claim a permanent exemption:
               (1)  by filing with the voter registrar of the county
  [tax assessor-collector], by mail or personal delivery, a signed
  statement affirming that the person is over 70 years of age and
  desires a permanent exemption on that ground; or
               (2)  in the manner provided by Section 62.107(c).
         (c)  The voter registrar of the county [tax
  assessor-collector] shall maintain a current register indicating
  the name of each person who has claimed and is entitled to a
  permanent exemption from jury service because the person is over 70
  years of age.
         (e)  A person who has claimed a permanent exemption from jury
  service because the person is over 70 years of age may rescind the
  exemption at any time by filing a signed request for the rescission
  with the voter registrar of the county [tax assessor-collector].
  Rescission of a permanent exemption does not affect the right of a
  person who is over 70 years of age to claim permanent exemption at a
  later time.
         SECTION 3.  Subsections (c) and (e), Section 62.109,
  Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The clerk of the district court shall promptly notify
  the voter registrar of the county [tax assessor-collector] of the
  name and address of each person exempted and state whether the
  exemption is permanent or for a specified period. The voter
  registrar [tax assessor-collector] 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.
         (e)  A person exempt from jury service under this section may
  rescind the exemption at any time by filing a signed request for the
  rescission with the voter registrar of the county [tax
  assessor-collector].
         SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a person claiming an exemption from jury service or rescinding an
  exemption from jury service on or after the effective date of this
  Act. A person claiming an exemption from jury service or rescinding
  an exemption from jury service before the effective date of this Act
  is governed by the law in effect on the date the person claims or
  rescinds the exemption, and the former law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 85 passed the Senate on
  March 17, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 85 passed the House on
  April 20, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, one
  present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
              Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor