H.B. No. 3996
AN ACT
relating to the donation of juror reimbursements.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 61.003(a), Government Code, is 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) any other program approved by the commissioners
court of the county, including a program established under Article
56.04(f), Code of Criminal Procedure, that offers psychological
counseling to jurors in criminal cases involving graphic evidence
or testimony; or
(5) a veterans court program established by the
commissioners court as provided by Chapter 124.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to donations from jurors appearing in response to a summons issued
on or after the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3996 was passed by the House on May
15, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 3996 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor