EXPANSION OF JURY POOLS

House Bills 4931-4934

Sponsor:  Rep. LaMar Lemmons, Jr.

Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 12-11-07

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4931-4934 AS INTRODUCED 6-19-07

The bills would expand the pool of eligible jurors to include those on current voter registration lists, a list of individuals filing state income tax returns, a list of recipients of public assistance, and a list of recipients of unemployment benefits.  Specifically, the bills would do the following:

House Bill 4931 would amend the Revised Judicature Act (MCL 600.1304 et al.).  Currently, the jury board selects names of persons to serve as jurors from a list that combines the names of people holding a driver's license or state ID card.  The bill would require the list to also include current voter registration lists or books, individuals who had filed state income tax returns, a list of persons receiving public assistance under the Social Welfare Act (for example, food stamps), and a list of people receiving benefits under the Michigan Employment Security Act.

Voter lists.  Under the bill, between April 15 and May 1 of each year, the township or city clerk would have to deliver to the county clerk a full, current, and accurate copy of the voter registration cards containing the names and addresses of the registered voters, or a full, current, and accurate list of those registered, together with the current addresses shown on the card.  The county clerk would have to provide the jury board with copies of the current voter registration cards or lists for each precinct in the county.  The cards and lists would have to be treated by the jury board as one list, with voters grouped either by precinct or by city, township, or village, as they may be provided.  If the clerks of a municipality used an electronic or mechanical device to carry out their duties, the jury board —instead of receiving a list of current registered voters from the county clerk—could order the local clerks to provide the names and addresses selected by applying the key number and starting number designated by the board.

Tax lists.  Between April 15 and May 1 of each year, the state treasurer would have to transmit annually to the clerk of each county at no expense a full, current, and accurate copy of a list of the names and addresses of all individuals residing in that county who filed state income tax returns for the preceding calendar year.  At the request of a jury board before March 1, the state treasurer would have to transmit only a first jury list that consisted of the names and addresses of those persons selected at random, based on the total number of jurors required as submitted to the state treasurer by the board, using electronic or other mechanical devices.  If the county used electronic or mechanical devices to carry out its duties, the count could request and receive a copy of the list on any electronically produced medium under specifications prescribed by the state treasurer.  The state treasurer could establish specifications standardizing the size, format, and content of media utilized to transmit information used for jury selection.

 

Public Assistance recipients.  Between April 1 and May 1 of each year, the director of the Department of Human Services would have to transmit annually to the clerk of each county at no expense a full, current, and accurate copy of a list of the names and addresses of all individuals residing in that county who had received assistance administered under the Social Welfare Act during the preceding calendar year.  If requested by the jury board before March 1, and using electronic or other mechanical devices, the DHS director would have to transmit only a randomly selected first jury list consisting of the names and addresses of those persons; this list would be based on the total number of jurors required as submitted to the director by the board.  The bill would provide a mechanism for the required list to be transmitted electronically by the DHS to the county.

Unemployment recipients.  Between April 1 and May 1 of each year, the Employment Security Commission would have to transmit annually to the clerk of each county at no expense a full, current, and accurate copy of a list of the names and addresses of all individuals residing in that county who had received benefits under the Michigan Employment Security Act during the preceding calendar year.  If requested by the jury board before March 1, and using electronic or other mechanical devices, the commission would have to transmit only a randomly selected first jury list consisting of the names and addresses of those persons; this list would be based on the total number of jurors required as submitted to the director by the board.  The bill would provide a mechanism for the required list to be transmitted electronically by the commission to the county.

The bill is tie-barred to House Bills 4932-4934.

House Bill 4932 would add a new section to the Michigan Employment Security Act (MCL 421.54d) to allow the Employment Security Commission to disclose the names and addresses of claimants or recipients of benefits under the act to the extent required under the provisions added by House Bill 4931.  The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 4931.

House Bill 4933 would amend the Social Welfare Act (MCL 400.64) to allow the director of the Department of Human Services to disclose the names and addresses of individuals receiving assistance under the act to the extent required under the provisions added by House Bill 4931.  The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 4931.

House Bill 4934 would amend the Revenue Act (MCL 205.28), Public Act 122 of 1941, to allow the state treasurer to disclose the names and addresses of taxpayers to the extent required under House Bill 4931, to which it is tie-barred.

FISCAL IMPACT:

House Bill 4931 may increase costs to county governments to the extent that the bill increases the administrative workload of local jury boards.  The members of the jury board and their staff receive compensation from the county.  Depending upon the county's size, the local county jury board is appointed by either the county executive with the concurrence of the county board of commissioners or by the county board of commissioners.  Any fiscal impact to counties would be related to increased administrative workload to county jury boards and to county clerks that might arise under the bill's provisions.

The bill may have a minimal fiscal impact to local governments from the bill's requirement that local clerks annually provide the county clerk copies of voter registration cards. 

House Bill 4932 will have no significant fiscal impact on the Department of Labor and Economic Growth.

House Bill 4933 would increase administrative costs to the Department of Human Services in providing public assistance recipient lists to counties as required.  Information is not available at this time to evaluate the amount of any new costs.

House Bill 4934 would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the Department of Treasury.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analysts:   Viola Bay Wild

                                                                                                                           Richard Child

                                                                                                                           Bob Schneider

                                                                                                                           Mark Wolf

                                                                                                                          

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.