2018 -- H 7650

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LC004210

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE - PROCEDURE GENERALLY - JURY

LISTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Williams, Vella-Wilkinson, Walsh, Perez, and Slater

     Date Introduced: February 15, 2018

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 9-9-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-9 entitled "Jury Lists" is

hereby amended to read as follows:

     9-9-1. Persons liable to service -- Voting operator's licenses, Rhode Island

identification card, state income tax returns and unemployment compensation as evidence.

     (a) A person is liable to serve as a juror if the person is:

     (1) A citizen of the United States; and

     (2) At least eighteen (18) years of age; and

     (3) A resident of Rhode Island who either:

     (i) Resides in the county where the person is registered to vote;

     (ii) Is licensed to operate a motor vehicle within this state; or

     (iii) Possesses a Rhode Island identification card issued pursuant to the provisions of §§

3-8-6 and 3-8-6.1; or

     (iv) Is an individual filing a state income tax return; or

     (v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation.

     (b) The list of qualified electors of each town and city as made up by the board of

canvassers thereof, at its last meeting prior to the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in

each even numbered year, and the duly certified records of the administrator of the division of

motor vehicles shall be conclusive evidence of the liability of each person to serve as provided in

this chapter, unless in the case of a qualified elector the name of the person has been removed

from the list of qualified electors of that town or city on which the name of that person appears

prior to being summoned to appear in court as a juror, and except as provided in this chapter. The

jury commissioner shall notify the clerk of the board of canvassers and registration of each

particular city or town when it appears that a person on a list of qualified jurors does not reside at

the address on the list. The board of canvassers and registration, after due notice to the person,

shall challenge the listing thereof and after a hearing thereon may remove that person from the

list.

     (c) The division of motor vehicles shall forward to the jury commissioner the names of

licensed drivers and the names of those persons who possess Rhode Island identification cards

issued pursuant to the provisions of §§ 3-8-6 and 3-8-6.1 in the state on a yearly basis.

     (d) The division of taxation shall forward to the jury commissioner the names of all

individuals who have filed a state income tax return, on a yearly basis.

     (e) The department of labor and training shall forward to the jury commissioner the

names of all individuals who are receiving unemployment compensation, on a yearly basis.

     (f) Where more than five percent (5%) of the population of a prospective juror's

municipality are members of a single language minority and are limited-English proficient (LEP),

the jury notification letters to those prospective jurors shall include language and a telephone

number in bold print in the minority language, indicating that the recipient may contact the jury

commissioner's office and request that the letter be translated into the language of the prospective

juror. The translation shall be provided without charge to the prospective juror.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO COURTS AND CIVIL PROCEDURE - PROCEDURE GENERALLY - JURY

LISTS

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     This act would require jury notification letters to include foreign language that the letter

can be translated at the request of the prospective juror in a municipality where five percent (5%)

of the population are members of a single language minority.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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