1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to reimbursement of expenses of jurors.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 61.001, Government Code, is amended to
 1-5     read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 61.001.  REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES OF JURORS.  (a)  Each
 1-7     grand juror or petit juror in a civil or criminal case in a
 1-8     district court, criminal district court, county court, county court
 1-9     at law, or justice court is entitled to receive as reimbursement
1-10     for travel and other expenses an amount not less than $6 nor more
1-11     than $50 for each day or fraction of each day served as a juror.
1-12           (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), a [A] person who
1-13     responds to the process of a court but is excused from petit jury
1-14     service by the court for any cause after the person's [his] voir
1-15     dire examination is entitled to receive as reimbursement for travel
1-16     and other expenses an amount not less than $6 nor more than $50 for
1-17     each day or fraction of each day in attendance in court in response
1-18     to the process.
1-19           (c)  The commissioners court of each county shall determine
1-20     annually the daily reimbursement of expenses for jurors.  Except as
1-21     provided by Subsection (d), the [The] reimbursement must be within
1-22     the minimum and maximum amounts prescribed by this section and paid
1-23     out of the jury fund of the county.  In a specific case, the
1-24     presiding judge, with the agreement of the parties involved or
 2-1     their attorneys, may increase the daily reimbursement for jurors in
 2-2     that case to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount prescribed
 2-3     by this section.  The difference between the usual daily
 2-4     reimbursement and the reimbursement for jurors in a specific case
 2-5     shall be paid, in equal amounts, by the parties involved in the
 2-6     case.
 2-7           (d)  The commissioners court of a county may reduce or
 2-8     eliminate the daily reimbursement prescribed by this section for
 2-9     persons who attend court for only one day or a fraction of one day.
2-10     The funds retained by a county as a result of reducing or
2-11     eliminating reimbursement as provided by this subsection may only
2-12     be used to increase the daily reimbursement prescribed by this
2-13     section for jurors and for persons who attend court for more than
2-14     one day.
2-15           (e)  A check drawn on the jury fund by the district clerk of
2-16     the county may be transferred by endorsement and delivery and is
2-17     receivable at par from the holder for all county taxes.
2-18           (f) [(e)]  A reimbursement for expenses under this section is
2-19     not a property right of a juror or prospective juror for purposes
2-20     of Chapters 72 and 74, Property Code.  If a check or other
2-21     instrument representing a reimbursement under this section is not
2-22     presented for payment or redeemed before the 90th day after it is
2-23     issued:
2-24                 (1)  the instrument is considered forfeited and is
2-25     void; and
2-26                 (2)  the money represented by the instrument may be
2-27     placed in the county's jury fund, the county's general fund, or any
 3-1     other fund in which county funds can be legally placed, at the
 3-2     discretion of the commissioners court.
 3-3           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999, and
 3-4     applies only to a person responding to a jury summons issued on or
 3-5     after that date.
 3-6           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 3-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 3-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 3-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-10     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. 3650 was passed by the House on May
         11, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in
         Senate amendments to H.B. No. 3650 on May 21, 1999, by a non-record
         vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3650 was passed by the Senate, with
         amendments, on May 19, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor