CHAPTER 42 HOUSE BILL No. 2600 An Act concerning jurors; relating to exclusions; amending K.S.A. 43-159 and K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 43-158 and repealing the existing sections. Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

      Section  1. K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 43-158 is hereby amended to read as
follows: 43-158. The following persons shall be excused from jury service:
(a) Persons unable to understand the English language with a degree of
proficiency sufficient to respond to a jury questionnaire form prepared
by the commissioner;

      (b) persons under adjudication of incompetency; and

      (c) persons who within 10 years immediately preceding have been
convicted of or pleaded guilty, or nolo contendere, to an indictment or
information charging a felony.; and

      (d) persons who have served as jurors in the county within one year
immediately preceding.

      Sec.  2. K.S.A. 43-159 is hereby amended to read as follows: 43-159.
In addition to the persons excused from jury service in K.S.A. 43-158,
and amendments thereto, the following persons may be excused from jury
service by the court: (a) Persons so physically or mentally infirm as to be
unequal to the task of ordinary jury duty;

      (b) persons who have served as jurors in the county within one (1)
year immediately preceding;

      (c) persons whose presence elsewhere is required for the public wel-
fare, health or safety;

      (d) (c) persons for whom jury service would cause extraordinary or
compelling personal hardship; and

      (e) (d) persons whose personal relationship to the parties or whose
information or interest in the case to be tried is such that there is a
probability such persons would find it difficult to be impartial.

      Sec.  3. K.S.A. 43-159 and K.S.A. 1999 Supp. 43-158 are hereby re-
pealed.

      Sec.  4. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its
publication in the statute book.

Approved March 31, 2000.
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