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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the qualifications for jury service and the |
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establishment of a juror mental health services reimbursement |
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program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 61.004 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 61.004. JUROR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES REIMBURSEMENT. |
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To the extent funds are appropriated to the Health and Human |
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Services Commission for the juror mental health services |
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reimbursement program established under Subchapter J, Chapter 547, |
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a court presiding over a trial involving a defendant charged with an |
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offense under Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22, or 25, Penal Code, shall, for |
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each person selected to serve as a juror or alternate juror in the |
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trial: |
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(1) advise the person in writing about the |
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availability of the juror mental health services reimbursement |
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program established under Subchapter J, Chapter 547; and |
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(2) provide the person with a certificate of |
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attendance at the completion of the trial that includes: |
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(A) the person's name; |
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(B) the name of the court; |
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(C) the dates of the person's jury service; and |
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(D) each offense under Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22, or |
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25, Penal Code, with which the defendant was charged. |
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SECTION 2. Section 62.102, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 62.102. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR JURY SERVICE. A |
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person is disqualified to serve as a petit juror unless the person: |
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(1) is at least 18 years of age; |
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(2) is a citizen of the United States; |
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(3) is a resident of this state and of the county in |
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which the person is to serve as a juror; |
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(4) is qualified under the constitution and laws to |
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vote in the county in which the person is to serve as a juror; |
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(5) is of sound mind and good moral character; |
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(6) is able to read and write; |
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(7) has not served as a petit juror for six days during |
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the preceding three months in the county court or during the |
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preceding six months in the district court; |
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(8) has not been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a |
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felony; [and] |
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(9) is not under indictment or other legal accusation |
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for misdemeanor theft or a felony; and |
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(10) has not served as a petit juror for three |
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consecutive months during the preceding 60 months in the county |
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court or district court. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 547, Government Code, as effective April |
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1, 2025, is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. JUROR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 547.0451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Mental health professional" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 164.003, Health and Safety Code. |
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(2) "Mental health services" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code. |
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(3) "Program" means the juror mental health services |
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reimbursement program established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 547.0452. JUROR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES REIMBURSEMENT |
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PROGRAM. (a) To the extent funds are appropriated to the |
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commission for that purpose, the commission shall establish a juror |
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mental health services reimbursement program to reimburse a |
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person's cost of obtaining mental health services related to the |
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person's service as a juror or alternate juror in a criminal trial |
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that involved a defendant charged with an offense under Chapter 19, |
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20, 21, 22, or 25, Penal Code. |
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(b) A person is eligible to receive a payment under the |
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program in the amount of $150 if the person: |
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(1) served as a juror or alternate juror on a criminal |
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trial that involved a defendant charged with an offense under |
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Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22, or 25, Penal Code, in the 12 months |
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immediately preceding the person's application for reimbursement |
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under the program; |
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(2) provides the commission the certificate of |
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attendance described by Section 61.004 for the trial described by |
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Subdivision (1); |
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(3) obtained mental health services from a mental |
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health professional related to the trial described by Subdivision |
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(1); and |
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(4) provides the commission proof of payment for the |
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mental health services described by Subdivision (3). |
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(c) The commission shall provide to an eligible person the |
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payment not later than the 90th day after the date the commission |
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receives the person's application for reimbursement under the |
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program. |
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(d) The commission shall publish information about the |
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program on the commission's Internet website, including: |
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(1) a description of the eligibility requirements; |
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(2) a description of mental health services eligible |
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for reimbursement; |
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(3) instructions for submitting an application; and |
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(4) a list of mental health resources. |
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(e) The commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement |
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the program under this section. |
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SECTION 4. Section 62.102, Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to the qualifications of a person summoned |
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for jury service on or after the effective date of this Act. The |
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qualifications of a person summoned for jury service before the |
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effective date of this Act are governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the summons was made, and the former law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |