HB1624: relative to a one day/one trial jury duty pilot program.

HB 1624-FN – AS INTRODUCED

2008 SESSION

08-2569

09/01

HOUSE BILL 1624-FN

AN ACT relative to a one day/one trial jury duty pilot program.

SPONSORS: Rep. Nord, Rock 1; Rep. DiFruscia, Rock 4

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

ANALYSIS

This bill requires the chief justices of the supreme court and superior court to establish and institute a one day/one trial jury duty pilot program in Rockingham county superior court.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

08-2569

09/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

AN ACT relative to a one day/one trial jury duty pilot program.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 One Day/One Trial Jury Duty Pilot Program; Rockingham County Superior Court. The chief justices of the supreme court and the superior court shall establish, by court rule, a one-day/one trial jury duty pilot program to be implemented in the Rockingham county superior court. The pilot program shall be based on the one-day/one trial jury duty system currently operating in Massachusetts to the extent it is applicable to New Hampshire and in conformance with New Hampshire laws. The pilot program shall begin operation in January, 2009. The chief justices of the supreme court and the superior court shall make a report on the pilot program, with recommendations for its continuance and expansion to other superior courts, on or before November 1, 2010 to the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the governor, the house clerk, the senate clerk, the chairman of the house judiciary committee, the chairman of the senate judiciary committee, and the state library.

2 Repeal. Section 1 of this act, relative to a one day/one trial jury pilot program in Rockingham county superior court, is repealed.

3 Effective Date.

I. Section 2 of this act shall take effect July 1, 2011.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect January 1, 2009.

LBAO

08-2569

Revised 12/28/07

HB 1624 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT relative to a one day/one trial jury duty pilot program.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The Judicial Branch states this bill will increase state expenditures by $59,062 in FY 2009, $87,333 in FY 2010 and $87,333 in 2011. There will be no fiscal impact on county and local expenditures or state, county, and local revenue.

METHODOLOGY:

The Judicial Branch states this bill requires the Branch to establish a one-day/one trial jury duty pilot program in Rockingham County Superior Court. The pilot program will begin operation in January of 2009 and be repealed July 1, 2011 unless there is a recommendation to continue the program to the Legislature and Governor on or before November 1, 2010. The Branch estimates it will need to add two additional court assistant II positions and the necessary office equipment for the additional positions. The pilot program would also require approximately 39 hours of judicial time at $97.17 per hour or $3,790 annually. The Branch mails 250 juror summonses at $.99 per summons for each of its jury panels and estimates it will have 26 additional panels a year as a result of the pilot program. The Branch states it will have certified mail costs for each juror who does not respond to the first mailing. The Branch anticipates the following expenditures to implement the pilot program:

FY 2009

FY 2010

FY 2011

Court Assistant II (2 positions)

$23,500

$47,000

$47,000

Benefits @ 48.3 %

11,351

22,701

22,701

Judicial Time (39 hours * $97.17 per hour)

1,895

3,790

3,790

Equipment

15,725

660

660

Postage

4,550

9,100

9,100

Supplies

2,041

4,082

4,082

Total

$59,062

$87,333

$87,333

This bill does not provide an appropriation or authorization for additional positions.