JUROR COMPENSATION INCREASE - H.B. 4090 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4090 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Michael Switalski
House Committee: Civil Law and the Judiciary
Senate Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act (RJA) to increase juror compensation fees. It would take effect on October 1, 2003, and is tie-barred to House Bills 4551, 4552, 4553, and 4798. (House Bill 4551 would create the Juror Compensation Reimbursement Fund. House Bill 4552 would increase various driver license clearance fees and allocate a portion of the fees to the proposed Fund. House Bill 4553 would provide for the distribution of money in the Fund to district, probate, and circuit court funding units. House Bill 4798 would increase jury trial fees.)
The RJA requires that a juror be compensated at a rate determined by the county board of commissioners that is at least $15 per day and $7.50 per half day of actual attendance at the court. Under House Bill 4090 (S-1), that minimum rate of compensation would apply until October 1, 2003. Beginning on that date, the juror compensation rate determined by a county board of commissioners would have to be at least $25 per day and $12.50 per half day for the first day or half day of actual attendance at the court. The juror compensation rate would have to be at least $40 per day and $20 per half day, for each subsequent day or half day of actual attendance.
MCL 600.1344 - Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would increase statutory minimum juror reimbursement rates effective October 1, 2003, as follows:
| CURRENT | PROPOSED | ||
| 1st Day of Actual
Attendance |
2nd and
Subsequent Days | ||
| Per Day | 15.00 | 25.00 | 40.00 |
| Half Day | 7.50 | 12.50 | 20.00 |
The estimated annual cost of the increase is $5,687,700. This estimate is based on FY 1994-95 data submitted by local court funding units to the State Court Administrative Office for reimbursement of juror costs and a 2001 survey of 14 courts regarding second-day and beyond juror service. (The State reimbursed funding units for juror costs in FY 1994-95 and FY 1995-96 based on costs in FY 1993-94 and FY 1994-95.) The State Court Administrative Office used a 2001 survey (calendar year 2000) regarding the number of juror days to refine the cost estimate.
Date Completed: 5-28-02 - Fiscal Analyst: Bill BowermanFloor\hb4090 - Bill Analysis @ http://www.senate.state.mi.us/sfa
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.