| |
|
|
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. Subsection (a), Section 61.003, Government Code, |
|
|
as amended by Chapters 661 (H.B. 1204) and 1378 (S.B. 560), Acts of |
|
|
the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, is reenacted and |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(a) Each person who reports for jury service shall be |
|
|
personally provided a form letter that when signed by the person |
|
|
directs the county treasurer to donate all, or a specific amount |
|
|
designated by the person, of the person's daily reimbursement under |
|
|
this chapter to: |
|
|
(1) the compensation to victims of crime fund under |
|
|
Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure; |
|
|
(2) the child welfare, child protective services, or |
|
|
child services board of the county appointed under Section 264.005, |
|
|
Family Code, that serves abused and neglected children; |
|
|
(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, including a program established under Article |
|
|
56.04(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, that offers psychological |
|
|
counseling to jurors in criminal cases involving graphic evidence |
|
|
or testimony. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 61.003, Government Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows: |
|
|
(a-2) The form letter provided under Subsection (a) must |
|
|
contain a brief description of the programs designated for donation |
|
|
under that subsection. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |