78R8910 T

By:  Casteel                                                      H.B. No. 3070



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the reimbursement of the expenses of jurors.                      
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 61.001(c), Government Code, is amended 
as follows:       
	(c)  The commissioners court of each county shall determine 
annually the daily reimbursement of expenses for jurors.  Except as 
provided by Subsection (d), the reimbursement must be within the 
minimum and maximum amounts prescribed by this section and paid out 
of the jury fund of the county.  The commissioners court may set 
different daily reimbursements for grand and petit jurors, and may 
set different daily reimbursements for petit jurors based on 
whether such jurors serve in justice, county or district courts, or 
based on any other reasonable criteria as determined by the 
commissioners court.  In a specific case, the presiding judge, with 
the agreement of the parties involved or their attorneys, may 
increase the daily reimbursement for jurors in that case to an 
amount not to exceed the maximum amount prescribed by this section.  
The difference between the usual daily reimbursement and the 
reimbursement for jurors in a specific case shall be paid, in equal 
amounts, by the parties involved in the case.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.