S.B. No. 397
AN ACT
relating to methods of payment for reimbursement of jury service
expenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 113, Local Government
Code, is amended by adding Section 113.048 to read as follows:
Sec. 113.048. DISBURSEMENT OF MONEY FOR JURY SERVICE.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter or
other law to the contrary, a county treasurer may disburse to a
person who reports for jury service and discharges the person's
duty the daily amount of reimbursement for jury service expenses
set by the commissioners court under Section 61.001, Government
Code, by:
(1) using an electronic funds transfer system in
accordance with Chapter 156;
(2) using a cash dispensing machine;
(3) issuing a debit card or a stored value card; or
(4) using any other method that the county treasurer
and the commissioners court determine is secure, accurate, and
cost-effective and that is convenient for persons who report for
jury service.
(b) A system or method of payment adopted by a county
treasurer under Subsection (a) may be implemented only if it is
approved by the commissioners court and administered in accordance
with the procedures established by the county auditor or by the
chief financial officer of a county that does not have a county
auditor.
(c) A system or method of payment authorized by this section
may be used in lieu of or in addition to the issuance of warrants or
checks authorized under this subchapter.
SECTION 2. Subsection (f), Section 61.001, Government Code,
is amended to read as follows:
(f) A reimbursement for expenses under this section is not a
property right of a person who reports for jury service for purposes
of Chapters 72 and 74, Property Code. If a check, [or other]
instrument, or other method of payment authorized under Section
113.048, Local Government Code, representing a reimbursement under
this section is not presented for payment or redeemed before the
90th day after it is issued:
(1) the instrument or other method of payment is
considered forfeited and is void; and
(2) the money represented by the instrument or other
method of payment may be placed or retained in the county's jury
fund, the county's general fund, or any other fund in which county
funds can be legally placed, at the discretion of the commissioners
court.
SECTION 3. Section 61.003, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
(e) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a county that has
adopted a system or method of payment authorized by Section
113.048, Local Government Code, may provide a person who reports
for jury service in the county an opportunity to donate all, or a
specific part designated by the juror, of the juror's daily
reimbursement by completing a self-executing application on a form
prescribed by the commissioners court.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a disbursement for the reimbursement for jury service expenses on
or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 397 passed the Senate on
March 19, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 397 passed the House on
May 27, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 148, Nays 0, one present
not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor