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


Senate Research Center   S.B. 395
77R2236 YDB-DBy: Duncan
Jurisprudence
2/1/2001
As Filed


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.  As
proposed, 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, to add 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.