Bill Text: HI SB3384 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating To Jury Duty.

Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 11-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-02-15 - Report adopted; Passed Second Reading and referred to WAM. [SB3384 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2024-SB3384-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	3384
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to jury duty.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that in 2023, the San Francisco Financial Justice Project, housed in the office of the treasurer and tax collector, released the results of a one-year evaluation of the Be the Jury Program, which increased juror pay from $15 to $100 per day for low- to moderate-income jurors.  Significantly, the one-year evaluation shows that the program of increased pay has had a sustained impact on increasing economic and racial diversity in jury pools in San Francisco, which is an important factor in ensuring fair verdicts.  The effort to pass legislation to expand the project to other counties passed the 2023 California legislature, but was vetoed by governor Gavin Newsom due to cost.

     The legislature further finds that many other states pay jurors more than what jurors currently receive for their service in the State, with six states paying jurors $50 per day and four states paying $40 per day.  Other states have taken recent action to increase juror pay.  For example, Arizona has increased the daily rate for superior court jurors to $300 per day, and Nevada has increased its juror pay to $65 per day.  North Dakota has increased the rate to $50 for the first half day and $100 for serving the whole day, with jurors receiving an additional $100 for each day served.  Indiana has increased the rate for prospective jurors to $30 for simply reporting for service, with selected jurors receiving $80 per day for the first five days of service and $90 days through the end of their service.  Finally, Virginia has increased the jury duty allowance from $30 to $50 per day.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to increase the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each actual day of attendance at court.

     SECTION 2.  Section 612-8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:

     "(a)  Each juror or prospective juror shall be paid [$30] $100 for each day of actual attendance at court.  In addition, each juror or prospective juror shall be paid the higher of either:

     (1)  33 cents for each mile actually and necessarily traveled in going to and from court; or

     (2)  The cost of an adult bus fare to and from the court.

A person who appears at the time for which that person is summoned to court for jury duty may be allowed the mileage fee or bus fare although the person, upon that person's request, is subsequently excused or exempted from jury service."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:	_____________________________

 

 

 

Report Title:

Jury Duty; Juror Pay; Increase

 

Description:

Increases the amount each juror or prospective juror is paid for each actual day of attendance at court.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.