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.