House Bill No. 500, introduced by Representative Green, aims to amend the compensation structure for jurors serving in both criminal and civil trials in Louisiana. The bill proposes to increase the daily compensation for jurors, establishing a rate of $25 for each day of service during voir dire, which begins on the second day, and $58 for each day of attendance in court once jurors are impaneled in criminal cases. For civil cases, the compensation will be set at $80 for each day of attendance in court starting from the second day. Additionally, the mileage allowance for jurors will remain at a minimum of 16 cents per mile, consistent with the rate for state officials.

The bill modifies existing law by deleting the previous compensation rates of $25 for each day and $50 for civil cases, replacing them with the new proposed rates. This change is intended to better compensate jurors for their time and expenses incurred while fulfilling their civic duty. The legislation also maintains provisions regarding the payment of jury filing fees and the posting of bonds by parties requesting a jury trial, ensuring that these financial obligations remain in place unless waived by the court.

Statutes affected:
HB500 Original: 13:3049(B)(1)
HB500 Engrossed: 13:3049(B)(1)