2018 -- S 2596

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LC004965

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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: Senators Quezada, Calkin, Crowley, Metts, and Jabour

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Sections 9-9-1 and 9-9-1.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 9-9 entitled

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"Jury Lists" are hereby amended to read as follows:

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

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

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Persons liable to service -- Voting operator's licenses, Rhode Island identification card, state

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income tax returns, public assistance records and unemployment compensation as evidence.

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

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     (1) A citizen of the United States; and

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

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     (3) A resident of Rhode Island who either:

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

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

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

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

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

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     (v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation. ;or

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     (vi) Is an individual recipient of public assistance as defined in §40-6-1(b)(1).

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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list.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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     (f) The department of human services shall forward to the jury commissioner the names

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of all individuals who are receiving public assistance, on a yearly basis.

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     9-9-1.1. Qualifications of jurors.

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

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     (1) A citizen of the United States; and

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     (2) A resident of Rhode Island who either:

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

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

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

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

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

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     (v) Is an individual recipient of unemployment compensation. ; or

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     (vi) Is an individual recipient of public assistance as defined in §40-6-1(b)(1).

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     (3) At least 18 years of age;

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     (4) Able to understand and participate in the court proceedings; and

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     (5) Physically and mentally capable of performing in a reasonable manner the duties of a

 

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juror.

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     (b) No person shall be allowed to serve as a juror if he or she has been lawfully

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adjudicated to be non compos mentis.

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     (c) No person convicted of a felony shall be allowed to serve as a juror, until completion

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of such felon's sentence, served or suspended, and of parole or probation regardless of a nolo

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contendere plea.

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     (d) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a)(4) and (5), a person with a disability shall not be

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ineligible to serve as a juror solely on the basis of his or her disability, and if that person meets

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the above requirements, with reasonable accommodations if necessary, he or she shall be deemed

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a qualified juror.

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     (e) Nothing in this section shall prevent the court from disqualifying a prospective juror

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because he or she lacks a faculty or has a disability which will prevent the potential juror from

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being a competent juror in a particular case.

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     (f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit a party's right to preemptorially use

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a peremptory challenge to remove jurors.

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     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 add any individual receiving public assistance to the list of those persons

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liable and qualified for jury service and would mandate that the director of human services

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provide the jury commissioner with a list of those people on public assistance on a yearly basis.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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