BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3996

By: Blanco

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to reports from interested parties, veterans courts operate on grant funding but also seek alternative funding resources. The parties point out that a person who reports for jury duty may donate all or a specific amount of the person's daily reimbursement to any of certain causes, including the victims of crime fund; a child welfare, child protective services, or child services board; a program selected by a commissioners court that provides shelter for victims of family violence; and a program offering psychological counseling to jurors in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or testimony. In order to provide for a supplemental funding source for veterans courts, C.S.H.B. 3996 seeks to add the option to donate to the veterans court program.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3996 amends the Government Code to include a veterans court program among the programs and funds to which a juror may donate all or a portion of the juror's daily reimbursement.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3996 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 61.003(a), Government Code, is 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..; or (5)  the specialty court established by the commissioners court of the county under Chapter 124, Government Code.	SECTION 1.  Section 61.003(a), Government Code, is 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; or (5)  a veterans court program established by the commissioners court as provided by Chapter 124.
No equivalent provision.	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 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.