ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Fifty-fifth Legislature

Second Regular Session

House: JUD DP 9-0-0-1

HB2592: juror compensation; superior court; appropriation.

Sponsor: Representative Carter, LD 8

Committee on Appropriations

Overview

Requires jurors to serve in the superior court to be eligible for compensation from the Arizona lengthy trial and digital evidence fund (Fund). Appropriates $1,620,000 from the state General Fund (GF) to the Fund for fiscal years (FY) 2023 through 2026.

History

The Fund consists of monies received from the additional fees paid on all court filings, appearances, responses and answers. The state Supreme Court adopts rules for and administers the Fund. Beginning on the first day of jury service, the amount of compensation must be at least $40 but not more than $300 per day per employed juror. A juror is eligible to be paid $40 per day if they are unemployed and ineligible for compensation from the Fund (A.R.S. § 21-222).

Monies in the Fund are used to:

1) Compensate petit jurors whose service lasts more than five days and who receive less than full compensation from their employers; and

2) Pay for the management and storage of digital evidence (A.R.S. § 21-222).

A juror whose service lasts more than five days may submit a request for payment from the Fund.

A juror who requests payment from the Fund:

1) Must disclose required financial information;

2) Must submit verification from the juror's employer; and

3) Must provide an affidavit attesting to any required information (A.R.S. § 21-222).

Provisions

1. Expands the Fund's funding source to include monies appropriated by the Legislature. (Sec. 1)

2. Removes the requirement that petit jurors eligible for compensation from the Fund have a jury service lasting more than five days. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires petit jurors eligible for compensation from the Fund serve in the superior court. (Sec. 1)

4. Specifies that a petit juror serving in the superior court may submit a request for payment from the Fund. (Sec. 1)

5. Appropriates $1,620,000 from the state GF to the Fund for FYs 2023 through 2026. (Sec. 2)

Amendments

Committee on Judiciary

1. Requires that petit jurors eligible for compensation from the Fund have a jury service lasting more than two days.

2. Reduces the Fund's appropriation from $1,620,000 to $1,000,000.

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6. HB 2592

7. Initials LC/DG Page 0 Appropriations

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