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