bill lowering the jury duty exemption age to over 65

The text as introduced · 579 words

89R3959 JTZ-D

By: Smithee
H.B. No. 1957

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an exemption from jury service for a person who is over

the age of 65.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 62.106(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) A person qualified to serve as a petit juror may

establish an exemption from jury service if the person:

(1) is over 65 [ 75 ] years of age;

(2) has legal custody of a child younger than 12 years

of age and the person's service on the jury requires leaving the

child without adequate supervision;

(3) is a student of a public or private secondary

school;

(4) is a person enrolled and in actual attendance at an

institution of higher education;

(5) is an officer or an employee of the senate, the

house of representatives, or any department, commission, board,

office, or other agency in the legislative branch of state

government;

(6) is summoned for service in a county with a

population of at least 200,000, unless that county uses a jury plan

under Section 62.011 and the period authorized under Section

62.011(b)(5) exceeds two years, and the person has served as a petit

juror in the county during the 24-month period preceding the date

the person is to appear for jury service;

(7) is the primary caretaker of a person who is unable

to care for himself or herself;

(8) except as provided by Subsection (b), is summoned

for service in a county with a population of at least 250,000 and

the person has served as a petit juror in the county during the

three-year period preceding the date the person is to appear for

jury service; or

(9) is a member of the United States military forces

serving on active duty and deployed to a location away from the

person's home station and out of the person's county of residence.

SECTION 2. Section 62.107(c), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(c) A person who is over 75 years of age and who files a

statement with a clerk of the court[ , ] as provided by Subsection

(a)[ , ] claiming an exemption under Section 62.106(a)(1) [ because

the person is over 75 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.

SECTION 3. Section 62.108(a), Government Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a) A person who is over 75 years of age and who is entitled

to exemption from jury service under Section 62.106(a)(1) [ because

the person is over 75 years of age ] may establish a permanent

exemption on the [ that ] ground of being over 75 years of age as

provided by this section or Section 62.107.

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to

the establishment of an exemption from jury service for a person

summoned to appear for jury service on a date on or after the

effective date of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.