83R778 KKR-F
By: Phillips H.B. No. 692
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the donation of juror reimbursements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 61.003(a) and (c), Government Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) Each person who reports for jury service shall be
personally provided a form letter that when signed by the person
directs the county treasurer to donate all, or a specific amount
designated by the person, of the person's daily reimbursement under
this chapter to:
(1) the compensation to victims of crime fund under
Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure;
(2) the child welfare, child protective services, or
child services board of the county appointed under Section 264.005,
Family Code, that serves abused and neglected children;
(3) any program selected by the commissioners court
that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization and
that provides shelter and services to victims of family violence;
[or]
(4) a [any other] program approved by the
commissioners court of the county that is[, including a program]
established under Article 56.04(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, and
through which [that offers] psychological counseling is offered to
jurors in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or testimony;
or
(5) any other program approved by the commissioners
court of the county.
(c) The county treasurer shall:
(1) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(1) to
the comptroller, at the time and in the manner prescribed by the
attorney general, for deposit to the credit of the compensation to
victims of crime fund;
(2) deposit donations made to the county child welfare
board under Subsection (a)(2) in a fund established by the county to
be used by the child welfare board in a manner authorized by the
commissioners court of the county; and
(3) send all donations made under Subsection (a)(3),
(4), or (5) [(a)(4)] directly to the program specified on the form
letter signed by the person who reported for jury service.
SECTION 2. The amendment by this Act of Section 61.003,
Government Code, is intended to clarify rather than change existing
law.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.