PMWJ H.B. 1886 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS JUDICIAL AFFAIRS H.B. 1886 By: Oliveira 4-9-97 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND Prospective jurors are currently reimbursed $6 for their initial selection hearing and $7.50 per day of jury service if selected. Many Texans believe that juror reimbursements are a pittance. A three-day trial, for instance, would pay a juror $28.50; $6 for the selection appearance and $22.50 for the three-day trial. Because the amounts of money involved are usually quite small, there has been growing sentiment that jurors should have the option of donating their reimbursement stipends to victims' organizations. PURPOSE H.B. 1886 would allow persons responsible for summoning jurors to provide prospective jurors with a form letter that would allow them to donate all or part of their jury service reimbursements to victims' organizations. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1 amends Section 61.003 of the Government Code to add the child welfare service fund under Chapter 264, Family Code, or, any program selected by the county commissioners court that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence to the list of organizations delineated on a form letter provided to each juror which when signed would direct the county treasurer to donate all or part of the prospective juror's reimbursement for jury service. SECTION 2. Effective date. Application of act. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment No. 1 adds a new Sec. 61.003(a)(4) to the Government Code in Section 1 of the bill and makes conforming changes throughout Section 1 of the bill due to the addition of new Subsec. (a)(4). New Subsec. (a)(4) would allow the commissioners court to approve other programs to which prospective jurors and jurors may donate their reimbursement.