Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB456 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/26/2021

                    87R5608 ANG-D
 By: Lucio S.B. No. 456


 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
 established under Subchapter J, Chapter 56B, 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;
 (4)  any other program approved by the commissioners
 court of the county, including a program established under Article
 56A.205, Code of Criminal Procedure, that offers psychological
 counseling in criminal cases involving graphic evidence or
 testimony; [or]
 (5)  a veterans court treatment program established by
 the commissioners court as provided by Chapter 124; or
 (6)  a veterans county service office established by
 the commissioners court as provided by Subchapter B, Chapter 434.
 (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),
 [or] (a)(4), or (a)(6) directly to the program or office, as
 applicable, specified on the form letter signed by the person who
 reported for jury service.
 SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.