AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, when a person reports for jury duty, they may donate all or a specific amount of their daily reimbursement to four causes. These causes include:

·         Victims of Crime Fund;

·         Child welfare, child protective services, or child services board;

·         Any program selected by commissioners court operated by a public or nonprofit that provides shelter for victims of family violence; and

·         Any program offering psychological counseling to jurors in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or testimony.

H.B. 3996 seeks to add another option to allow individuals to donate all or a portion of the daily jury duty reimbursements to fund the Veterans Court Program, currently operating on grant funding. In order to provide resources outside of grant funding, alternative solutions have been sought.

 

H.B. 3996 amends current law relating to the donation of juror reimbursements.

 

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 Section 61.003(a), Government Code, to add a veterans court program established by the commissioners court as provided by Chapter 124 (Veterans Court Program) to a list of certain programs each person who reports for jury service is required to 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. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

SECTION 2. Provides that 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. Effective date: September 1, 2015.