S.B. 312: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - ELIMINATE JURY BOARDS

Senate Bill 312 (as introduced 3-18-97)

Date Completed: 11-13-97

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act to delete references to jury boards and transfer their responsibilities to county clerks. (Jury boards are required, for example, to select the names of persons to serve as jurors from combined driver's license and personal identification cardholder lists; obtain from court clerks a list of persons who served as jurors in the preceding year; arrive at a key number for the period for which jurors are to be selected; place names on jury lists; supply a juror qualifications questionnaire to persons on a list; make a preliminary screening of the qualifications and exemptions of prospective jurors; draw jurors for jury service, as ordered by the court; draw the names of persons to serve as grand jurors; and report the name of anyone who tries to influence the selection of any juror).

The bill also would repeal sections of the Act that do the following:

-- Prescribe the composition of jury boards (MCL 600.1301).

-- Provide for the compensation of jury board members (MCL 600.1302).

-- Allow the appointment of jury board assistants (MCL 600.1303).

-- Require jury board members to take an oath (MCL 600.1303a).

-- Require jury boards to meet annually (MCL 600.1305).

-- Allow board members to administer an oath or affirmation (MCL 600.1318).

MCL 600.1304 et al. - Legislative Analyst: S. Lowe

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would result in administrative savings to local units of government regarding costs associated with appointment of juror boards.

- Fiscal Analyst: B. Bowerman

S9798\S312SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.