HB1957 - Relating to an exemption from jury service for a person who is over the age of 65.

  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.