Commissioners Court - Regular Session

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33.

Meeting Date:	09/20/2011
Jury Pay
Submitted For:	Lisa David	Submitted By:	Lisa David, District Clerk
Department:	District Clerk
Agenda Category:	Regular Agenda Items

Information

Agenda Item

Discuss and take appropriate action on jury pay per Senate Bill 1, Article 40 .

Background

Prior to 2005, counties were only required to pay jurors $6 per day for jury service. In 2005 the legislature authorized additional fees to partially fund the costs of juror pay and required counties to pay $40 for each additional day after the initial day of jury service. The state provided funds to reimburse the counties $34 each day. The legislature failed to appropriate funds during the next biennium, sweeping the fees to offset the state deficit. To prevent unfunded mandates, the state relieved the coutines of the $40 mandate. Instead, counties are only required to pay jurors and amount equal to the state reimbursement. The comptroller has set this at $28 per day after the first day of service. The pay will be looked at quarterly and may be changed accordingly. To implement this change, the Commissioners Court must review juror pay. The county must pay $6 for the first day. For subsequent days, the county must pay at least $28 per day. All amounts over $28 will be unreimbursed. As the District Clerk and Jury Manager for Williamson County, I am asking that the pay be set at least $30 per day. Several counties in the state are taking the hit and making up the unreimbursed amount. I have heard back from a few that I requested pay and 15 out of the 26 counties are paying above the $28. I have only heard back from two of our neighbor counties Bell County is paying $34 and Travis is $28.

Fiscal Impact

From/To	Acct No.	Description	Amount

Attachments
No file(s) attached.

Form Review

Inbox	Reviewed By	Date
County Judge Exec Asst.	Wendy Coco	09/14/2011 09:32 AM
Form Started By: Lisa David		Started On: 09/14/2011 09:03 AM
Final Approval Date: 09/14/2011