HBA-CBW S.B. 395 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 395
By: Duncan
Judicial Affairs
4/4/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

A subcommittee of the Texas Judicial Council examined the need for
increased compensation for jury service and made recommendations to the
legislature to increase juror participation. Texas jurors are paid $6 a
day, one of the lowest compensation rates for jury service in the nation.
Increasing the daily stipend may attract  more potential jurors.  Senate
Bill 395 requires the Texas Judicial Council to conduct a study to examine
jury service in each county in the state and to examine the reimbursement
of expenses for jurors. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 395 amends the Government Code to require the Texas Judicial
Council (council) to conduct a study to examine jury service in each county
of this state. The bill requires the council to collect and examine
information relating to reimbursement of expenses for jurors and other
incentives for jury service and to collect and examine demographic and
statistical information from each county relating to the county's
prospective jurors and each person who has been summoned for jury service,
has appeared for jury service, and has served as a juror.  The bill
requires the council to seek the assistance of each county and the National
Center for State Courts and requires the council to file a copy of the
study, a summary of results of the study, and the council's recommendations
with the legislature not later than January 1, 2003. These provisions
expire March 1, 2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.