ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
Purpose:
Removes
the three-year time limit to commence an action to collect jury fees and
stipulates that the judgment remains in effect until the jury fees are paid in
full.
Background:
During a civil trial, a
judge has the authority to panel a jury, which incurs costs such as the per
diem payment of the members of the jury and reimbursement for travel
expenses. These jury fees are typically
paid out of the county general fund or the judge may require the losing party
or both parties in a case to pay the fees.
In Maricopa County, if the
jury fees go uncollected for 90 days, the clerk of the court is authorized to
utilize a collection agency for recovery of the fees. For an action to collect jury fees to commence, the judgment
requiring a party in a civil trial to pay jury fees must be recorded in the
office of the county recorder within 30 days from the time the judgment is
rendered. In addition, an action to
begin a collection of jury fees must be made within three years of the judgment
being submitted to the county recorder.
H.B. 2286 removes the
three-year time limit and stipulates that the judgment for jury fees does not
expire until it is paid in full.
Courts in Maricopa County
typically award jury fees totaling $20,000 to $25,000 per month. The clerk of the court estimates that 80
percent of the monthly total is collected without the use of a collection
agency.
There is no anticipated
impact to the state general fund associated with this bill.
Provisions:
1. Removes the three-year time limit to commence an action to collect jury fees and stipulates that a judgment for jury fees remains in effect until the jury fees are paid in full.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Provides for a general effective date.
House Action
JUD 2/6/01 DP 9-0-0-1
3rd Read 2/20/01 DP 59-0-1
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 5, 2000