HBA-TYH H.B. 1324 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1324
By: Garcia
Economic Development
3/18/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Chapter 122, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, describes a juror's right to
reemployment. Currently, if an employer terminates an employee for serving
as a juror, the employee's only recourse is to sue for up to six months'
compensation and reasonable attorney's fees.  Most states make the firing
of an employee for responding to a jury summons a criminal offense. H.B.
1324 makes terminating an employee for performing jury duty a Class B
misdemeanor. 

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 Chapter 122, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, by adding
Section 122.0025, as follows: 

Sec. 122.0025.  CRIMINAL PENALTY.  Provides that a person commits a Class B
misdemeanor if the person violates Section 122.001(Juror's Right to
Reemployment; Notice of Intent to Return). 

SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.