Relating to juries, including juror compensation and employer conduct, and making penalties applicable

Description

House File 2587 provides that a grand juror and a petit juror in all courts will receive $75 as compensation for each day’s service or attendance. The Bill requires the Supreme Court to adopt rules that allow for jurors whose attendance and service exceeds seven days to receive $95 as compensation for each day after the seventh day of service or attendance. The Bill prohibits an employer from requiring an employee to perform work within 10 hours before the employee is required to report for jury service. The Bill also prohibits an employer from taking actions against the employee for the employee’s right to be excluded from work for jury service. An employer who violates this commits contempt.

Background

Under current law, a juror is entitled to $30 for each day’s service or attendance. The Supreme Court also currently has administrative rules that allow additional compensation for jurors whose attendance and service exceeds seven days. In calendar year (CY) 2023, there were 55,672 paid juror days; 55,021 days were paid at $30 per day (for days 1 through 7 of service); and 651 days were paid at $50 per day (for day 8 of service and after). Figure 1 displays the total cost of paid juror days in CY 2023.

Figure 1 — Juror Pay CY 2023 (Current Law) Under current law, an employer is prohibited from depriving an employee of employment or threatening or otherwise coercing an employee with respect to the employee’s employment because the employee serves as a juror. An employer who violates these provisions commits contempt. If an employer discharges an employee in violation, the employee may within 60 days of the discharge bring a civil action for the recovery of wages lost as a result of the violation and for an order requiring the reinstatement of the employee.

Assumptions

The total number of future paid juror days will resemble CY 2023. There will be 55,021 paid juror days for days one through seven of service and 651 paid juror days for day eight of service and after.

Figure 2 — Cost with Adjusted Rate Under HF 2587Paid Juror Days Rate Per Day Total Standard Days (days 1-7 paid at $30 per day) 55,021 30$ 1,650,630$ Special Days (days 8+ paid at $50 per day) 651 50 32,550 Total 55,672 1,683,180$Paid Juror Days Rate Per Day Total Standard Days (days 1-7 paid at $75 per day) 55,021 75$ 4,126,575$ Special Days (days 8+ paid at $95 per day) 651 95 61,845 Total Under HF 2587 55,672 4,188,420$

Fiscal Impact

House File 2587 is estimated to increase costs to the Judicial Branch by approximately $2.5 million per year.

Sources

• Judicial Branch
• Legislative Services Agency