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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
juror compensation; superior court; appropriation.
Purpose
Allows a petit juror in the superior court to be eligible for replacement and supplemental earnings after one day of service, rather than five days of service. Appropriates $1,620,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2023, FY 2024, FY 2025 and FY 2026.
Background
The Arizona Lengthy Trial and Digital Evidence Fund (Fund) consists of monies received from the additional fees paid on all filings, appearances, responses and answers and must be administered by the Supreme Court. Not more than three percent of the monies in the Fund may be used for the reasonable and necessary costs of administering the Fund. Monies in the Fund must be used to: 1) pay full or partial earnings replacement or supplementation to jurors who serve as petit jurors for more than five days and who receive less than full compensation, in an amount between $40 and $300 per day per juror beginning on the first day of jury service; and 2) the management and storage of digital evidence and facilitation of the display of evidence to a jury and court at a trial and related proceedings.
A juror whose jury service lasts more than five days may submit a request for payment from the Fund. A juror who requests payment must disclose certain information, including the juror's regular earnings, the amount the juror's employer will pay during the jury service and the amount of replacement or supplemental earnings being requested (A.R.S. § 21-222).
H.B. 2592 appropriates $1,620,000 from the state General Fund in FY 2023, FY 2024, FY 2025 and FY 2026.
Provisions
1. Allows a person who serves as a petit juror in the superior court to be eligible for replacement and supplemental earnings after one day of service, rather than five days of service.
2. Appropriates $1,620,000 from the state General Fund to the Fund in FY 2023, FY 2024, FY 2025 and FY 2026.
3. Allows monies appropriated by the Legislature to be deposited into the Fund.
4. Exempts appropriations made to the Fund for juror compensation from lapsing.
5. Specifies that the Legislature intends for appropriations made for juror compensation to be ongoing.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Allows a juror to be eligible for replacement and supplemental earnings after one day of service, rather than two days.
2. Increases the appropriations to the Fund from $1,000,000 to $1,620,000.
3. Exempts appropriations made to the Fund for juror compensation from lapsing.
4. Specifies that the Legislature intends for appropriations made for juror compensation to be ongoing.
House Action Senate Action
JUD 2/16/22 DPA 9-0-0-1 JUD 3/17/22 DP 8-0-0
APPROP 2/21/22 DP 12-0-0-1 APPROP 3/29/22 DPA 7-0-3
3rd Read 2/24/22 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 30, 2022
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