Changes the age when a person may be excused from serving on a petit and grand jury
Impact
If enacted, HB1745 will directly influence section 494.430 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri which currently governs the conditions under which jurors may be excused from service. The change aims to relieve those who may face undue hardship with serving on a jury due to their age. Additionally, the bill outlines various circumstances under which individuals can seek an excusal, including severe physical or financial hardship, and it underscores the importance of health and welfare considerations in jury service.
Summary
House Bill 1745, introduced by Representative Burger, seeks to amend existing statutes regarding jury duty excusal criteria in the state of Missouri. The bill proposes to lower the age threshold for individuals eligible to be excused from serving as jurors, changing it from seventy-five years to seventy years. This adjustment reflects an increasing awareness of the challenges faced by older adults in participating in jury duty as well as an effort to align excusal criteria with the realities of age-related health and mobility issues.
Contention
The proposed reduction in the age limit for jury duty excusal may raise various points of contention among legislators and constituents. Supporters are likely to argue that this change is a necessary acknowledgment of the physical and logistical challenges older individuals may encounter. Conversely, some may contend that this bill could set a precedent for further reductions in civic participation among older adults, questioning whether it undermines the principle of jury service as a civic duty for all capable citizens, regardless of age.
Provides that a person may be charged with promoting a suicide attempt or voluntary manslaughter if such person is convicted of abusing certain persons and such conduct significantly contributed to the suicide or suicide attempt