What's happening
This bill increases the daily juror allowance from $40 to $72 and raises the minimum wage employers must pay jurors.
Why it matters
Directly benefits jurors financially. The increased daily allowance helps offset lost income for those serving on juries, making jury service more accessible for people who might otherwise face financial hardship.
Raises employer compensation obligations. Employers with more than ten employees must now pay a higher minimum daily wage ($72 instead of $40) to jurors for the first three days, which may impact business payroll policies and costs.
Could broaden jury diversity. By reducing the financial barrier to serving, the bill may allow more low- and middle-income residents to participate in jury duty, leading to juries that better reflect the community.
Signals legislative recognition of changing economic realities. The adjustment reflects acknowledgment of inflation and the rising cost of living since the last increase, ensuring that civic compensation keeps pace with broader economic trends.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Raise Juror Daily Pay
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported referred to ways and means
- Referred to judiciary
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5433
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. DenDEKKER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Judiciary
AN ACT to amend the judiciary law, in relation to increasing the amount of allowance that trial and grand jurors are entitled to in each court of the unified court system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision (a) of section 521 of the judiciary law, as amended by chapter 302 of the laws of 2002, is amended to read as follows:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b) of this section, trial and grand jurors in each court of the unified court system shall be entitled to an allowance equal to the sum of [forty] seventy-two dollars per day for each and every day of physical attendance wherein the court convenes, except that no person who is employed shall be entitled to receive such allowance if, pursuant to section five hundred nineteen of this article, his or her employer is prohibited from withholding the first [forty] seventy-two dollars of wages of such person during such period and such person's daily wages equal or exceed [forty] seventy-two dollars. If such person's daily wages are less than [forty] seventy-two dollars, he or she shall be entitled to receive an allowance hereunder equal to the difference between [forty] seventy-two dollars and the amount of his or her daily wages. Such fees and those expenses actually and necessarily incurred in providing food and lodging for jurors shall be a state charge payable out of funds appropriated to the office of court administration for that purpose.
§ 2. Section 519 of the judiciary law, as added by chapter 85 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
§ 519. Right of juror to be absent from employment. Any person who is summoned to serve as a juror under the provisions of this article and who notifies his or her employer to that effect prior to the commence-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09792-01-7
A. 5433 2
ment of a term of service shall not, on account of absence from employment by reason of such jury service, be subject to discharge or penalty. An employer may, however, withhold wages of any such employee serving as a juror during the period of such service; provided that an employer who employs more than ten employees shall not withhold the first [forty] seventy-two dollars of such juror's daily wages during the first three days of jury service. Withholding of wages in accordance with this section shall not be deemed a penalty. Violation of this section shall constitute a criminal contempt of court punishable pursuant to section seven hundred fifty of this chapter.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.