By Oliveira H.B. No. 1886
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to certain juror donations.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Sections 61.003(a) and (b), Government Code, are
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 (a) A person responsible under Section 62.013 or 62.014 for
1-7 summoning prospective jurors to appear for jury service shall
1-8 provide to each prospective juror a form letter that when signed by
1-9 the prospective juror directs the county treasurer to donate all or
1-10 part of the prospective juror's reimbursement for jury service to:
1-11 (1) the compensation to victims of crime fund under
1-12 Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure;
1-13 (2) the child welfare service fund under Chapter 264,
1-14 Family Code;
1-15 (3) any program selected by the commissioners court
1-16 that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and
1-17 that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence;
1-18 or
1-19 (4) any other program approved by the commissioners
1-20 court of the county.
1-21 (b) The county treasurer shall:
1-22 (1) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(1)
1-23 [this section] to the comptroller [state treasurer], at the time
1-24 and in the manner prescribed by the attorney general, for deposit
2-1 to the credit of the compensation to victims of crime fund;
2-2 (2) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(2) to
2-3 the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the child welfare
2-4 service fund in the state treasury; and
2-5 (3) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(3) or
2-6 (a)(4) directly to the program specified on the form letter signed
2-7 by the prospective juror.
2-8 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
2-9 applies only to a person responding to a summons issued on or after
2-10 that date.
2-11 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.