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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the donation of juror reimbursements. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 61.003(a) and (c), Government Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Each person who reports for jury service shall be |
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personally provided a form letter that when signed by the person |
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directs the county treasurer to donate all, or a specific amount |
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designated by the person, of the person's daily reimbursement under |
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this chapter to: |
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(1) the compensation to victims of crime fund under |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure; |
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(2) the child welfare, child protective services, or |
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child services board of the county appointed under Section 264.005, |
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Family Code, that serves abused and neglected children; |
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(3) any program selected by the commissioners court |
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that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and |
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that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence; |
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[or] |
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(4) a [any other] program approved by the |
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commissioners court of the county that is[, including a program] |
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established under Article 56.04(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, and |
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through which [that offers] psychological counseling is offered to |
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jurors in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or testimony; |
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or |
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(5) any other program approved by the commissioners |
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court of the county. |
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(c) The county treasurer shall: |
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(1) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(1) to |
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the comptroller, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the |
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attorney general, for deposit to the credit of the compensation to |
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victims of crime fund; |
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(2) deposit donations made to the county child welfare |
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board under Subsection (a)(2) in a fund established by the county to |
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be used by the child welfare board in a manner authorized by the |
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commissioners court of the county; and |
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(3) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(3), |
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(4), or (5) [(a)(4)] directly to the program specified on the form |
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letter signed by the person who reported for jury service. |
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SECTION 2. The amendment by this Act of Section 61.003, |
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Government Code, is intended to clarify rather than change existing |
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law. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |