JURY EXEMPTIONS; EXPAND        S.B. 330:

        SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL

        IN COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate Bill 330 (as introduced 5-29-25)

Sponsor: Senator Mallory McMorrow

Committee: Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety

 

Date Completed: 9-8-25

 

 

CONTENT

 

The bill would amend Chapter 13 (Jurors) of the Revised Judicature Act to allow a familial caretaker of a hospice patient and a parental caregiver of a child with a serious health condition to claim exemption from jury service for the period of care.

 

Generally, an individual who is a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old, and a resident of the applicable county qualifies as a juror. The Act currently allows specific individuals to claim exemptions from jury service, such as an individual who is a nursing mother during the nursing period and an individual who is a service member of the United States Armed Forces during the individual's period of active duty. The Act requires individuals who qualify to claim exemptions to provide specific proof, such as a doctor's letter for a nursing mother or a copy of the service member's orders.

 

Under the bill, an induvial who was the familial caretaker of a hospice patient or was in a period of bereavement could claim exemption from jury service for the period of care. The individual would have to be exempt upon making the request to the court and providing a letter from a physician, a certified nurse, or any official member of the hospice team assigned to the patient's care that verified that the individual was a familial caregiver of the patient.

 

The bill would define "period of care" as the period of time that an individual is a familial caretaker and includes a period of bereavement. "Familial caretaker" would mean a family member, close family friend, or another important adult in the patient's life or the patient's family's life that provides full-time care, nurturing, or protection of the patient. "Family member" would mean a spouse, adult child, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or a member of the individual's tribe or clan. "Period of bereavement" would mean one year after the death of the patient in hospice.

 

Additionally, the bill would allow an individual who was the parental caregiver of a child with a serious health condition to claim exemption from jury service for the period of care. The individual would have to be exempt upon making the request of the court and providing a letter from a physician, a certified nurse, or an official member of the health care team assigned to the child's care that verified the individual was the parental caregiver of the child with a serious health condition.

 

The bill would define "parental caregiver" as an individual who is the caregiver of any of the following:

 

--       The individual's biological, adopted, or foster child, stepchild, or legal ward.

--       A child of a covered individual's domestic partner.

--       A child to whom a covered individual stands in loco parentis.

--       An individual to whom a covered individual stood in loco parentis when the child was a minor.

 

"Serious health condition" would mean an illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition that involves inpatient care in a hospital, hospice, or residential care facility or continuous treatment by a health care provider.

 

MCL 600.1307a        Legislative Analyst: Tyler VanHuyse

 

FISCAL IMPACT

 

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

 

        Fiscal Analyst: Michael Siracuse

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