Narrative
Juror Compensation Explicitly Addressed State Law
Ark. Code 19-5-1246. County Juror Reimbursement Fund.
(a) There is created on the books of the Treasurer of State, the Auditor of State, and the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State a miscellaneous revenue fund to be known as the “County Juror Reimbursement Fund”.
(b) The County Juror Reimbursement Fund shall consist of those moneys transferred from the State Administration of Justice Fund and other moneys as authorized by law.
(c) The County Juror Reimbursement Fund shall be used for reimbursements to counties for a portion of the cost of per diem compensation for jurors and prospective jurors pursuant to § 16-34-106.
Only State Funds Pay
Ark. Code
16-34-106. Payment by county — Reimbursement by state.
(a) The per diem compensation under § 16-34-103 shall be paid promptly to each juror or prospective juror by a county from funds appropriated for that purpose by the quorum court.
(b)
(1)
(A) The state shall reimburse a county for a portion of the costs incurred for a payment under § 16-34-103(b)(1) if the county makes a request under subdivision (b)(3) of this section.
(B)
(i) If funds are available, the state shall reimburse a county for the cost of a prospective juror orientation for a juror eligible for payment under § 16-34-103(b)(2) up to fifteen dollars ($15.00) if the county makes a request under subdivision (b)(3) of this section.
(ii) The reimbursement under this subdivision (b)(1)(B) shall not exceed the minimum per diem compensation under § 16-34-103(b)(2).
(2) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall administer the state reimbursement to a county under subdivision (b)(1) of this section.
(3) A county may request reimbursement for costs incurred for a payment under § 16-34-103(b)(1) or § 16-34-103(b)(2) on a quarterly basis as follows:
(A) On or before May 1 of each year for costs incurred between January 1 and March 31 of that year;
(B) On or before August 1 of each year for costs incurred between April 1 and June 30 of that year;
(C) On or before December 1 of each year for costs incurred between July 1 and September 30 of that year; and
(D) On or before February 1 of each year for costs incurred between October 1 and December 31 of the prior year.
(4) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall consult with Arkansas Legislative Audit and shall prescribe the information that shall be documented and certified by a county in order to receive reimbursement under subdivision (b)(1) of this section.
Ark. Code 16-10-310. State Administration of Justice Fund — Distribution of revenue.
(a) At the close of books on or before the twentieth working day of each month, the Department of Finance and Administration shall distribute revenue credited to the State Administration of Justice Fund and received for the previous month as provided in this section.
(b) The revenue described in subsection (a) of this section shall be distributed to the following state programs and state agencies in monthly installments of at least one-twelfth (1⁄12) of the annual allocation provided for each state program or state agency from the State Administration of Justice Fund subject to the limitations stated in this section...(20) The Administrative Office of the Courts for county reimbursements for jurors; and"
State Reimburses Counties Juror Compensation Fees
Ark. Code 19-5-1246. County Juror Reimbursement Fund.
(a) There is created on the books of the Treasurer of State, the Auditor of State, and the Chief Fiscal Officer of the State a miscellaneous revenue fund to be known as the “County Juror Reimbursement Fund”.
(b) The County Juror Reimbursement Fund shall consist of those moneys transferred from the State Administration of Justice Fund and other moneys as authorized by law.
(c) The County Juror Reimbursement Fund shall be used for reimbursements to counties for a portion of the cost of per diem compensation for jurors and prospective jurors pursuant to § 16-34-106.
Ark. Code 16-34-106. Payment by county — Reimbursement by state.
(a) The per diem compensation under § 16-34-103 shall be paid promptly to each juror or prospective juror by a county from funds appropriated for that purpose by the quorum court.
(b)
(1)
(A) The state shall reimburse a county for a portion of the costs incurred for a payment under § 16-34-103(b)(1) if the county makes a request under subdivision (b)(3) of this section.
(B)
(i) If funds are available, the state shall reimburse a county for the cost of a prospective juror orientation for a juror eligible for payment under § 16-34-103(b)(2) up to fifteen dollars ($15.00) if the county makes a request under subdivision (b)(3) of this section.
(ii) The reimbursement under this subdivision (b)(1)(B) shall not exceed the minimum per diem compensation under § 16-34-103(b)(2).
(2) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall administer the state reimbursement to a county under subdivision (b)(1) of this section.
(3) A county may request reimbursement for costs incurred for a payment under § 16-34-103(b)(1) or § 16-34-103(b)(2) on a quarterly basis as follows:
(A) On or before May 1 of each year for costs incurred between January 1 and March 31 of that year;
(B) On or before August 1 of each year for costs incurred between April 1 and June 30 of that year;
(C) On or before December 1 of each year for costs incurred between July 1 and September 30 of that year; and
(D) On or before February 1 of each year for costs incurred between October 1 and December 31 of the prior year.
(4) The Administrative Office of the Courts shall consult with Arkansas Legislative Audit and shall prescribe the information that shall be documented and certified by a county in order to receive reimbursement under subdivision (b)(1) of this section.
History
County Local Funds Solely Pay
Amount Involves Supplement
Per Diem Amount
Ark. Code 16-34-103. Per diem compensation for jurors and prospective jurors.
(a) Any person who receives official notice that he or she has been selected as a prospective juror or who is chosen as a juror is eligible to receive per diem compensation for service if:
(1) The person actually appears at the location to which the juror or prospective juror was summoned; and
(2) The person's appearance is duly noted by the circuit clerk.
(b)
(1) The per diem compensation payable to any person who is eligible for payment under subsection (a) of this section and who is selected and seated to serve as a member of a grand jury or petit jury is fifty dollars ($50.00) per day.
(2) Any person who is eligible for payment under subsection (a) of this section and who is excused or otherwise not selected and seated as a member of a grand jury or petit jury shall be provided per diem compensation of not less than fifteen dollars ($15.00) as established by ordinance of the county quorum court.
Per Diem Rate Increases After Certain Number of Days
Extended Lengthy Trial Fund Specific Fund
Are Jobs Protected
Ark. Code 16-31-106. Penalty for employees' service prohibited.
(a) (1) Any person who is summoned to serve on jury duty shall not be subject to discharge from employment, loss of sick leave, loss of vacation time, or any other form of penalty as a result of his or her absence from employment due to jury duty, upon giving reasonable notice to his or her employer of the summons.
(2) No employer shall subject an employee to discharge, loss of sick leave, loss of vacation time, or any other form of penalty on account of his or her absence from employment by reason of jury duty.
(b) Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.
Jurors Entitled to Both Juror Compensation
Juror Either Paid by Employer or by State
Transportation Transit Reimbursement
Ark. Code
16-34-104. Mileage reimbursement for jurors.
In the event and to the extent that a county quorum court adopts by ordinance a policy for reimbursement of mileage costs for jurors, any person who is eligible to receive per diem compensation under § 16-34-103 and whose primary place of residence is outside the city limits of the city where the court that summoned the juror or prospective juror is located may receive, in addition to the per diem compensation, a mileage reimbursement payment for mileage from and to his or her home by the most direct and practicable route at the rate prescribed by the county.
Parking Provided Full
Ark. Code
16-31-105. Exemption from overtime parking penalties.
(a) No person shall be subject to a fine or other penalty for the offense of overtime parking incurred while the person is engaged in actual service as a grand or petit juror in any court, federal or state, in this state.
(b) The person may evidence the fact of jury service by exhibiting to the appropriate official of the city or town offended by the violation a certificate of the clerk of the court similar to the form now in use to the effect that the person was engaged in jury service on the date of the violation and the hours of actual service.
(c) Any person attempting to enforce any fine or other penalty notwithstanding the provisions of this section shall be subject to contempt proceedings before the judge of the court being served by the person so charged.
(d) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to give immunity from fine or penalty other than for the offense of overtime parking.
Childcare Provided Full
Juror can Return Juror Fees
Payer
Explicit Rule
Yes
Only state funds to pay for jury compensation
Yes
State reimburses county
Yes
Only county/local funds to pay for jury compensation
No
County/local funds can supplement state compensation
No
Extent of Payment
Explicit employer protections
Yes
Juror entitled to both juror compensation and regular employment wages
No
Juror can only receive one: Juror compensation or regular employment wages
No
Per diem amount
Yes
Per diem rate increases after certain number of days
No
Extended/Lengthy Trial Fund: Specific Funding Source for this additional, extended funding
No
Other Provisions
Transportation/Transit reimbursement
Yes
Parking provided
Yes
Child care provided/reimbursed
No
Juror can return juror fees, or waive per diem
No
Disclaimer
The information provided on this website does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice.