Senate Study Bill 1070
SENATE/HOUSE FILE
BY (PROPOSED JUDICIAL
BRANCH BILL)
Passed Senate, Date Passed House, Date
Vote: Ayes Nays Vote: Ayes Nays
Approved
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to jury service compensation, reimbursement, and
2 confidentiality and exempting certain governmental employees
3 from jury service compensation.
4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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PAG LIN
1 1 Section 1. Section 607A.8, Code 2007, is amended by
1 2 striking the section and inserting in lieu thereof the
1 3 following:
1 4 607A.8 FEES AND EXPENSES FOR JURORS.
1 5 1. A grand juror and a petit juror in all courts shall
1 6 receive thirty dollars as compensation for each day's service
1 7 or attendance, including attendance required for the purpose
1 8 of being considered for service. The supreme court may adopt
1 9 rules that allow additional compensation for jurors whose
1 10 attendance and service exceeds seven days.
1 11 2. A grand juror and a petit juror in all courts shall
1 12 receive reimbursement for mileage expenses at the rate
1 13 specified in section 602.1509 for each mile traveled each day
1 14 in excess of thirty miles to and from the residence of the
1 15 juror to the place of service or attendance, and shall receive
1 16 reimbursement for actual expenses of parking, as determined by
1 17 the clerk of the district court. A juror who is a person with
1 18 a disability may receive reimbursement for the costs of
1 19 alternate transportation from the residence of the juror to
1 20 the place of service or attendance. A juror shall not receive
1 21 reimbursement for mileage expenses or actual expenses of
1 22 parking when the juror travels in a vehicle for which another
1 23 juror is receiving reimbursement for mileage and parking
1 24 expenses.
1 25 3. An employee of an employer as defined in section 97B.1A
1 26 shall be provided with a paid leave of absence for any time
1 27 the employee is absent from work due to jury service or
1 28 attendance, including attendance required for the purpose of
1 29 being considered for service. An employee of an employer as
1 30 defined in section 97B.1A shall not receive compensation under
1 31 subsection 1.
1 32 4. A grand juror or a petit juror in all courts may waive
1 33 the right of the juror to receive compensation under
1 34 subsection 1 or reimbursement under subsection 2.
1 35 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 607A.47 JUROR QUESTIONNAIRE.
2 1 The court may, on its own motion, or upon the motion of a
2 2 party to the case or upon the motion of a juror, order the
2 3 sealing or partial sealing of a completed juror questionnaire,
2 4 if the court finds that it is necessary to protect the safety
2 5 or privacy of a juror or a family member of a juror.
2 6 EXPLANATION
2 7 This bill relates to jury service including compensation,
2 8 reimbursement, and confidentiality.
2 9 The bill raises juror compensation from $10 to $30 for each
2 10 day of service or attendance, including attendance required
2 11 for the purpose of being considered for service. However, if
2 12 a juror is an employee covered under the Iowa public employees
2 13 retirement system (IPERS), the juror shall be provided paid
2 14 leave of absence for each day of service or attendance in lieu
2 15 of compensation under the bill.
2 16 The bill also provides that all jurors are entitled to
2 17 reimbursement, pursuant to Code section 602.1509, for each
2 18 mile traveled each day in excess of 30 miles to and from the
2 19 residence of the juror to the place of service or attendance.
2 20 Current law provides that a juror is entitled to
2 21 reimbursement, regardless of distance, for each mile traveled
2 22 to and from the residence of the juror to the place of service
2 23 or attendance.
2 24 The bill permits a juror to waive the right of the juror to
2 25 receive compensation or reimbursement for service or
2 26 attendance.
2 27 The bill also provides that the court may seal or partially
2 28 seal a jury questionnaire if the court finds it necessary to
2 29 protect the safety or privacy of a juror or a family member of
2 30 a juror.
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