House File 2701 - Introduced
HOUSE FILE 2701
BY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2587)
(SUCCESSOR TO HF 2111)
A BILL FOR
1 An Act relating to juries, including juror compensation and
2 employer conduct, and making penalties applicable.
3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
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1 Section 1. Section 607A.8, subsection 1, Code 2024, is
2 amended to read as follows:
3 1. A grand juror and a petit juror in all courts shall
4 receive thirty seventy-five dollars as compensation for each
5 day’s service or attendance, including attendance required
6 for the purpose of being considered for service. The supreme
7 court may shall adopt rules that allow additional compensation
8 for jurors whose attendance and service exceeds seven days to
9 receive ninety-five dollars as compensation for each day’s
10 service or attendance after the seventh day of service or
11 attendance, including attendance required for the purpose of
12 being considered for service.
13 Sec. 2. Section 607A.45, Code 2024, is amended by adding the
14 following new subsection:
15 NEW SUBSECTION. 1A. An employer shall not require an
16 employee to perform work for the employer within ten hours of
17 the time the employee is required to report for any actual
18 or prospective jury service. An employer shall not deprive
19 an employee of employment or threaten or otherwise coerce an
20 employee with respect to the employee’s employment because the
21 employee exercises the employee’s right to be excused from work
22 pursuant to this subsection. An employer who violates this
23 subsection commits contempt.
24 Sec. 3. Section 607A.45, subsection 2, Code 2024, is amended
25 to read as follows:
26 2. If an employer discharges an employee in violation of
27 subsection 1 or 1A, the employee may within sixty days of the
28 discharge bring a civil action for the recovery of wages lost
29 as a result of the violation and for an order requiring the
30 reinstatement of the employee. Damages recoverable shall not
31 exceed lost wages for a period of six weeks. If the employee
32 prevails, the employee shall be allowed reasonable attorney
33 fees as determined by the court.
34 EXPLANATION
35 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with
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1 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly.
2 This bill provides that a grand juror and a petit juror in
3 all courts shall receive $75 as compensation for each day’s
4 service or attendance. Under current law, a juror is entitled
5 to $30 for each day’s service or attendance. The bill also
6 requires the supreme court to adopt rules that allow juror
7 compensation for service or attendance over seven days to be
8 increased to $95 per day after the seventh day of service or
9 attendance.
10 The bill prohibits an employer from requiring an employee
11 to work within 10 hours of the time the employee is required
12 to report for juror service or attendance. An employer who
13 violates this provision commits contempt. An employee may
14 bring a civil action within 60 days of the violation for
15 lost wages and an order for reinstatement. An employee who
16 prevails can recover lost wages not to exceed six weeks of pay
17 and reasonable attorney fees. These are the same remedies
18 authorized under current law for other violations by an
19 employer with respect to a juror.
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Statutes affected:
Introduced: 607A.8, 607A.45