JURY DUTY: EXCUSE FOR PERSONS WITH YOUNG CHILDREN
House Bill 4455
Sponsor: Rep. Gene DeRossett
Committee: Judiciary
Complete to 10-13-03
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4455 AS INTRODUCED 3-25-03
Each county jury board supplies a juror qualifications questionnaire to persons eligible for jury duty. The questionnaire enables the board to gather information it desires, for example, qualifications for and exemptions from jury service.
House Bill 4455 would amend the Revised Judicature Act to include an exemption for parents or guardians of children under four years of age who meet certain criteria. In addition to other requested information, the questionnaire would have to ask whether the person is a parent or guardian of one or more children under the age of four and if the person is solely responsible for the care of that child or children for at least 20 hours during Monday through Friday of each week. The questionnaire would have to inform the person that if he or she met these qualifications, he or she may be excused from jury service. The bill would also require a jury board to excuse a person from jury service if he or she complied with the above requirements and asked to be excused.
MCL 600.1313 and 600.1314
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.