HBA-RBT H.B. 3650 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3650
By: Hartnett
Judicial Affairs
4/26/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas Government Code Section 61.001 requires counties to pay jurors a
daily stipend ranging between $6 and $50 for each day of service.  Because
most counties set the stipend at the lower end of the scale, jury service
often creates significant financial hardship for jurors, especially in
trials lasting several days.  H.B. 3650 gives counties the discretion to
reduce or eliminate the stipend for jurors who serve or attend court for
only one day and to thereby increase the stipend for jurors who serve more
than one day.   

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 61.001(a), (b), and (c), Government Code, to
authorize the commissioners court, in order to increase the funds available
to reimburse petit jurors or venirepersons who serve longer than one day,
to reduce or eliminate the reimbursement otherwise required under this
section for petit jurors or venirepersons who are excused or discharged one
day or less after responding to summons.  Provides that any amounts not
paid to jurors or venirepersons by virtue of this provision must be used
solely to supplement the reimbursement of petit jurors or venirepersons who
serve more than one day after responding to summons.  Makes conforming
changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
                       Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.