SRC-JEC S.B. 395 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 395
By: Duncan
Jurisprudence
6/21/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Recently, a subcommittee of the Texas Judicial Council examined the issue
of increased compensation for jury service in the hopes of making
recommendations to the legislature to increase juror participation.  S.B.
395 requires the Texas Judicial Council to collect further information from
all the counties, including information on reimbursement of expenses for
jurors and other incentives for jury service; and demographic and
statistical information relating to the county's jurors and prospective
jurors.  It also requires the Texas Judicial Council to examine the
information and report its findings and make recommendations to the
legislature. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 71C, Government Code, by adding Section 71.037,
as follows: 

Sec. 71.037.  JURY SERVICE STUDY.  (a)  Requires the Texas Judicial Council
(council) to conduct a study to examine jury service in each county of this
state. 

(b)  Requires the council to collect and examine certain information in
conducting the study. 

(c)  Requires the council to seek the assistance of each county and the
National Center for State Courts. 

(d)  Requires the council to file a copy of the study, a summary of the
results, and  
  the council's recommendations with the legislature not later than January
1, 2003. 

  (e)  Provides that this section expires March 1, 2003.

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2001.