By: Giddings (Senate Sponsor - West) H.B. No. 1204
         (In the Senate - Received from the House March 19, 2007;
  April 3, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Jurisprudence; May 10, 2007, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 10, 2007, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to donations of juror reimbursements.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 61.003, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  Each prospective juror reporting for jury service shall
  be personally provided a form letter that when signed by the
  prospective juror directs the county treasurer to donate all, or a
  specific amount designated by the prospective juror, of the
  prospective juror's daily reimbursement for jury service to:
               (1)  the compensation to victims of crime fund under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure;
               (2)  the child welfare board of the county appointed
  under Section 264.005, Family Code;
               (3)  any program selected by the commissioners court
  that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and
  that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence;
  or
               (4)  any other program approved by the commissioners
  court of the county.
         (a-1) The form letter provided under Subsection (a) must
  include a blank in which a prospective juror may enter the amount of
  the daily reimbursement the juror wishes to donate.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to donations from jurors appearing in response to a summons issued
  on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
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