JUROR COMP REIMBURSE FUND SHIFT H.B. 6122:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 6122 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Lori M. Stone
House Committee: Appropriations
Senate Committee: Committee of the Whole
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised Judicature Act to complete the required legislative action necessary to transfer $2.5 million of restricted Juror Compensation Reimbursement Fund money to the General Fund as part of a larger agreement between the Legislature and the Administration to balance fiscal year (FY) 2019-20.
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would not reduce or increase State revenue, and would not have a negative fiscal impact on local units of government, for FY 2019-20.
The Juror Compensation Reimbursement Fund was created to reimburse counties for a 2003 increase in juror compensation rates. The Fund consists of revenue from the collection of driver license clearance fees and jury demand fees. The Fund currently has a balance of several million dollars that will not be spent to compensate jury members this year. This balance does not lapse to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year, but remains in the Juror Compensation Reimbursement Fund, per statute. Over several years, this balance has grown to over $15.0 million. Although the bill would not empty the balance of the Fund, bills introduced this session would eliminate the revenue from driver's license clearance fees, which could leave the Fund empty within three or four fiscal years.
Fiscal Analyst: Michael Siracuse
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.