101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2019 and 2020
HB2203

 

Introduced , by Rep. Norine K. Hammond

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
705 ILCS 305/4.2 new

    Amends the Jury Act. Provides that a circuit court shall develop a policy for allowing prospective jurors who are older than a certain age to be permanently excused from jury duty. Provides that a circuit court, when determining the age at which a prospective juror may be excused based on age, shall consider the following: the age at which jury duty may become difficult for a significant number of jurors; and the jury pool available for that circuit court. Provides that a prospective juror meeting the age requirement may apply for the exemption based on a self-assessment of his or her physical limitations and mobility issues. Provides that the county board, jury administrator, or jury commissioner shall permanently exclude the prospective juror from all current and subsequent jury lists.


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A BILL FOR

 

HB2203LRB101 04636 LNS 49645 b

1    AN ACT concerning courts.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Jury Act is amended by adding Section 4.2 as
5follows:
 
6    (705 ILCS 305/4.2 new)
7    Sec. 4.2. Exemption from jury duty based on age.
8    (a) Each circuit court shall develop a policy for allowing
9prospective jurors who are older than a certain age to be
10permanently excused from jury duty. The purpose of this policy
11is to provide clarity and reassurance to elderly citizens that
12they do not have to report to the court for jury duty if they so
13choose.
14    If a circuit court, at the time of the effective date of
15this amendatory Act of the 101st General Assembly, has a policy
16for allowing prospective jurors older than the specified age to
17be excused, the circuit court does not have to develop a new
18policy.
19    (b) A circuit court shall, when deciding the age at which a
20prospective juror may be excused, consider the age at which
21jury duty may become difficult for a significant number of
22prospective jurors and the jury pool available to that circuit
23court. A prospective juror meeting the age requirement may

 

 

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1apply for the exemption based on a self-assessment of his or
2her physical limitations or mobility issues. The county board,
3jury administrator, or jury commissioner shall permanently
4exclude the prospective juror from all current and subsequent
5jury lists upon the prospective juror returning the jury
6summons with proof of age.