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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to voter information used for juror selections. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 62.001(a), (c), (d), (e), and (g), |
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Government Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The jury wheel must be reconstituted by using, as the |
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source: |
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(1) the names of all persons on the current statewide |
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voter registration list maintained as required under Section |
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18.061, Election Code, [lists] from all the precincts in the |
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county; and |
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(2) all names on a current list to be furnished by the |
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Department of Public Safety, showing the residents [citizens] of |
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the county who: |
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(A) hold a valid Texas driver's license or a |
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valid personal identification card or certificate issued by the |
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department; and |
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(B) are not disqualified from jury service under |
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Section 62.102(1), (3) [(2)], or (8) [(7)]. |
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(c) Each year not later than the third Tuesday in November |
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or the date provided by Section 16.032, Election Code, for the |
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cancellation of voter registrations, whichever is earlier, the |
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voter registrar of each county shall ensure the statewide list |
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includes [furnish to the secretary of state a] current voter |
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registration information [list] from all the precincts in the |
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county that, except as provided by Subsection (d), includes: |
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(1) the complete name, mailing address, date of birth, |
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voter registration number, and precinct number for each voter; |
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(2) if available, the Texas driver's license number or |
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personal identification card or certificate number and social |
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security number for each voter; and |
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(3) any other information included on the voter |
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registration list of the county. |
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(d) The list required by Subsection (a)(1) must [(c) may] |
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exclude[, at the option of the voter registrar of each county,] the |
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names of persons on the suspense list maintained under Section |
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15.081, Election Code. |
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(e) The voter registrar shall furnish to the secretary of |
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state a list of people exempted under Subsection (b) [send a list of
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the names of persons excluded to the secretary of state] with the |
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list required by Subsection (a)(1) [(c)]. |
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(g) The secretary of state shall accept the lists furnished |
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as provided by Subsections (e) and [(c) through] (f). The secretary |
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of state shall combine the lists, eliminate duplicate names, and |
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send the combined list to each county on or before December 31 of |
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each year or as may be required under a plan developed in accordance |
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with Section 62.011. The district clerk or bailiff designated as |
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the officer in charge of the jury selection process for a county |
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that has adopted a plan under Section 62.011 shall give the |
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secretary of state notice not later than the 90th day before the |
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date the list is required. The list furnished the county [must be
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in a format, electronic or printed copy, as requested by the county
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and] must be certified by the secretary of state stating that the |
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list contains the names required by Subsections (e) and [(c)
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through] (f), eliminating duplications. The secretary of state |
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shall furnish the electronic list free of charge. |
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SECTION 2. Section 62.011, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as |
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follows: |
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(d) A state agency or the secretary of state may not charge a |
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fee for furnishing an electronic [a] list of names required by |
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Section 62.001. |
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(e) The commissioners court of a county that has adopted a |
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jury selection plan must file with the Office of Court |
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Administration of the Texas Judicial System a copy of the plan and |
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any modification to the plan. |
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SECTION 3. Section 62.113, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (b-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b-1) The list of persons excused or disqualified because of |
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citizenship as required by Subsection (b) may not be combined with |
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or submitted simultaneously with any other list required to be |
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submitted to the voter registrar of the county, including a list |
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submitted under Section 62.114. |
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(e) The information required to be filed with the secretary |
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of state under this section must be filed electronically in the |
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format prescribed by the secretary of state. The secretary of state |
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may waive this requirement on application for a waiver submitted by |
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the clerk. |
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SECTION 4. Section 62.114, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
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(e) The list compiled under this section of persons excused |
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or disqualified because the person is not a resident of the county |
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may not be combined with or submitted simultaneously with any other |
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list required to be submitted to the voter registrar of the county, |
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including a list submitted under Section 62.113. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |