ALLOW HIGHER ED STUDENTS TO DEFER JURY DUTY

House Bill 4570 with committee amendment

Sponsor:  Rep. Kevin Cotter

Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 10-28-13

A REVISED SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4570 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

The bill would allow a term of jury duty to be postponed until the end of an academic year for a full-time student in a college or other educational institution.

House Bill 4570 would amend the Revised Judicature Act (MCL 600.1335) to require the chief judge of the court to which a person is returned as a juror to postpone the person's term of service until the end of the academic year if the person is a full-time student enrolled in and attending a college, community college, university, law school, or vocational school, or any other accredited educational institution.  The student would have to request the postponement.  Potential jurors would need to provide satisfactory proof that the term of jury duty will likely interfere with their class schedules. 

(Currently, a chief judge is required to postpone the term of service until the end of the school year if the person is a full-time high school student.)

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would not appear to have a significant fiscal impact on the state or local units of government.

BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE BILL:

The bill simply extends to students attending college, university, or various vocational schools the same ability to postpone jury duty until the summer break that is currently in place for high school students.  To be eligible for the postponement, the student would have to request a postponement, be enrolled full time, and show proof that the hours of jury duty are likely to conflict with class schedules.  Though it was not discussed, the bill might not be of benefit to a student whose classes are all taken in an online format.

POSITIONS:

The State Bar of Michigan indicated support for the bill.  (10-10-13)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Robin Risko

■ 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.