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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the procedure for donating 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 (e), Government Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) After jury service is concluded, each [Each] person who |
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reported [reports] for jury service shall be personally provided a |
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form letter that when signed by the person directs the county |
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treasurer to donate all, or a specific amount designated by the |
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person, of the person's daily reimbursement under this chapter to: |
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(1) the compensation to victims of crime fund |
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established under Subchapter J, Chapter 56B, Code of Criminal |
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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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(4) any other program approved by the commissioners |
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court of the county, including a program established under Article |
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56A.205, Code of Criminal Procedure, that offers psychological |
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counseling in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or |
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testimony; or |
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(5) a veterans treatment court program established by |
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the commissioners court as provided by Chapter 124. |
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(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a county that has |
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adopted a system or method of payment authorized by Section |
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113.048, Local Government Code, may provide a person who reported |
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[reports] for jury service in the county an opportunity to donate |
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all, or a specific part designated by the juror, of the juror's |
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daily reimbursement by completing a self-executing application on a |
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form prescribed by the commissioners court that is provided after |
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jury service is concluded. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a person summoned to |
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appear for jury service who is required to appear on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. A person summoned to appear for jury |
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service who is required to appear before the effective date of this |
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Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before the |
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effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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* * * * * |