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) Each [A person responsible under Section 62.013 or
1-7 62.014 for summoning prospective jurors to appear for jury service
1-8 shall provide to each] prospective juror reporting for jury service
1-9 shall be provided a form letter that when signed by the prospective
1-10 juror directs the county treasurer to donate all [or part] of the
1-11 prospective juror's reimbursement for jury service to:
1-12 (1) the compensation to victims of crime fund under
1-13 Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure;
1-14 (2) the child welfare service fund under Chapter 264,
1-15 Family Code;
1-16 (3) any program selected by the commissioners court
1-17 that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and
1-18 that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence;
1-19 or
1-20 (4) any other program approved by the commissioners
1-21 court of the county.
1-22 (b) The county treasurer shall:
1-23 (1) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(1)
1-24 [this section] to the comptroller [state treasurer], at the time
2-1 and in the manner prescribed by the attorney general, for deposit
2-2 to the credit of the compensation to victims of crime fund;
2-3 (2) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(2) to
2-4 the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the child welfare
2-5 service fund in the state treasury; and
2-6 (3) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(3) or
2-7 (a)(4) directly to the program specified on the form letter signed
2-8 by the prospective juror.
2-9 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and
2-10 applies only to a person responding to a summons issued on or after
2-11 that date.
2-12 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-13 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1886 was passed by the House on May
2, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
Senate amendments to H.B. No. 1886 on May 24, 1997, by a non-record
vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1886 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 22, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor