The text as introduced · 850 words
89R13066 BCH-F
By: Bonnen
H.B. No. 4088
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the qualifications for jury service and the
establishment of a juror mental health services reimbursement
program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 61.004 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.004. JUROR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES REIMBURSEMENT.
To the extent funds are appropriated to the Health and Human
Services Commission for the juror mental health services
reimbursement program established under Subchapter J, Chapter 547,
a court presiding over a trial involving a defendant charged with an
offense under Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22, or 25, Penal Code, shall, for
each person selected to serve as a juror or alternate juror in the
trial:
(1) advise the person in writing about the
availability of the juror mental health services reimbursement
program established under Subchapter J, Chapter 547; and
(2) provide the person with a certificate of
attendance at the completion of the trial that includes:
(A) the person's name;
(B) the name of the court;
(C) the dates of the person's jury service; and
(D) each offense under Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22, or
25, Penal Code, with which the defendant was charged.
SECTION 2. Section 62.102, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 62.102. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR JURY SERVICE. A
person is disqualified to serve as a petit juror unless the person:
(1) is at least 18 years of age;
(2) is a citizen of the United States;
(3) is a resident of this state and of the county in
which the person is to serve as a juror;
(4) is qualified under the constitution and laws to
vote in the county in which the person is to serve as a juror;
(5) is of sound mind and good moral character;
(6) is able to read and write;
(7) has not served as a petit juror for six days during
the preceding three months in the county court or during the
preceding six months in the district court;
(8) has not been convicted of misdemeanor theft or a
felony; [ and ]
(9) is not under indictment or other legal accusation
for misdemeanor theft or a felony ; and
(10) has not served as a petit juror for three
consecutive months during the preceding 60 months in the county
court or district court .
SECTION 3. Chapter 547, Government Code, as effective April
1, 2025, is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER J. JUROR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM
Sec. 547.0451. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Mental health professional" has the meaning
assigned by Section 164.003, Health and Safety Code.
(2) "Mental health services" has the meaning assigned
by Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code.
(3) "Program" means the juror mental health services
reimbursement program established under this subchapter.
Sec. 547.0452. JUROR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES REIMBURSEMENT
PROGRAM. (a) To the extent funds are appropriated to the
commission for that purpose, the commission shall establish a juror
mental health services reimbursement program to reimburse a
person's cost of obtaining mental health services related to the
person's service as a juror or alternate juror in a criminal trial
that involved a defendant charged with an offense under Chapter 19,
20, 21, 22, or 25, Penal Code.
(b) A person is eligible to receive a payment under the
program in the amount of $150 if the person:
(1) served as a juror or alternate juror on a criminal
trial that involved a defendant charged with an offense under
Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22, or 25, Penal Code, in the 12 months
immediately preceding the person's application for reimbursement
under the program;
(2) provides the commission the certificate of
attendance described by Section 61.004 for the trial described by
Subdivision (1);
(3) obtained mental health services from a mental
health professional related to the trial described by Subdivision
(1); and
(4) provides the commission proof of payment for the
mental health services described by Subdivision (3).
(c) The commission shall provide to an eligible person the
payment not later than the 90th day after the date the commission
receives the person's application for reimbursement under the
program.
(d) The commission shall publish information about the
program on the commission's Internet website, including:
(1) a description of the eligibility requirements;
(2) a description of mental health services eligible
for reimbursement;
(3) instructions for submitting an application; and
(4) a list of mental health resources.
(e) The commissioner may adopt rules necessary to implement
the program under this section.
SECTION 4. Section 62.102, Government Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to the qualifications of a person summoned
for jury service on or after the effective date of this Act. The
qualifications of a person summoned for jury service before the
effective date of this Act are governed by the law in effect on the
date the summons was made, and the former law is continued in effect
for that purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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