By: Lucio S.B. No. 456

(Leach)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the donation of juror reimbursements.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Sections 61.003(a) and (c), Government Code, are 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 established under Subchapter J, Chapter 56B, 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;

(4) any other program approved by the commissioners court of the county, including a program established under Article 56A.205, Code of Criminal Procedure, that offers psychological counseling in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or testimony; [or]

(5) a veterans court program established by the commissioners court as provided by Chapter 124; or

(6) a veterans county service office established by the commissioners court as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 434.

(c) The county treasurer shall:

(1) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(1) to the comptroller, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the attorney general, for deposit to the credit of the compensation to victims of crime fund;

(2) deposit donations made to the county child welfare board under Subsection (a)(2) in a fund established by the county to be used by the child welfare board in a manner authorized by the commissioners court of the county; and

(3) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(3), [or] (a)(4), or (a)(6) directly to the program or office, as applicable, specified on the form letter signed by the person who reported for jury service.

SECTION 2. Section 434.032, Government Code, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c) The commissioners court of a county that maintains an office:

(1) may not consider a juror's donation to the office of the juror's daily reimbursement under Section 61.003 for purposes of determining the county's budget for the office; and

(2) may use donations described by Subdivision (1) only to supplement, rather than supplant, amounts budgeted by the county for the office.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.