HBA-NMO H.B. 1139 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1139
By: Thompson
Criminal Jurisprudence
2/24/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 75th Texas Legislature enacted legislation increasing the age at which
a person may be excused from petit jury duty from 65 to 70 years.  Current
law also requires that personal information about 
petit jurors be kept confidential.  H.B. 1139 increases the age for which a
person may be excused from grand jury duty from 65 to 70 years and requires
that personal information about grand jurors be kept confidential.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Article 19.25, Code of Criminal Procedure, to authorize
a person older than 70, rather than 65, years to be excused from grand jury
service. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 19, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
Article 19.42, as follows: 

Art. 19.42.  PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT GRAND JURORS.  Provides that
personal information collected by the court, court personnel, or
prosecuting attorney during the grand jury selection process about a person
who serves as a grand juror is confidential and prohibits it from being
disclosed except on application to the court by a party to the proceeding
or a bona fide member of the news media acting in that capacity.  Requires
the court, on a showing of good cause, to permit disclosure of the sought
information. 

SECTION 3.  Makes application of Section 1 of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.