BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2014

By: Leach

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, jurors may be reimbursed for serving on a jury. This is set at $6 per day for the first day and $40 per day every day thereafter. The state reimburses a county up to $34 per day for these juror reimbursements. This amount is woefully inadequate to cover even the minimum cost to serve on a jury. A $6 reimbursement for the first day of service would not cover parking fees at some urban courthouses. And while an employer cannot terminate an employee for missing work for jury duty, there is no requirement for an employer to pay an employee for any missed days or shifts due to jury duty, leaving many jurors with a reduced income. H.B. 2014 seeks to increase the amount of juror reimbursement to $20 for the first day or any fraction of the first day and $58 for each additional day or fraction of a day. The bill maintains the same proportion between the state and county share of the reimbursement, requiring the state to reimburse counties for $52 per day or fraction of a day for juror service.

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

H.B. 2014 amends the Government Code to increase the minimum reimbursement amount for a person who reports for jury service as follows:

· from $6 to $20 for the first day or fraction of the first day the person is in attendance in court; and

· from $40 to $58 for each day or fraction of each day after the first day of attendance in court.

The bill increases from $34 to $52 the amount the state must reimburse a county for each reimbursement payment made for a day or fraction of a day of attendance in court after the first day.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.