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HomeMy WebLinkAboutO-2013-3495 authorize compensation for jury services/$10.00 eachORDINANCE NO. 140 16—�gC 5 - AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE AMENDING CHAPTER 46, "MUNICIPAL COURT", OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE, BY PROVIDING FOR THE PAYMENT OF FEES FOR JURY SERVICE IN THE LA PORTE MUNICIPAL COURT OF RECORD; CONTAINING A REPEALING CLAUSE; CONTAINING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; FINDING COMPLIANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF. WHEREAS Section 61. 001 (c) of the Texas Government Code provides that a person who reports for jury service in a municipal court is not entitled to reimbursement, but that the municipality may provide reimbursement for expenses to the person in an amount to be determined by the municipality; and, WHEREAS the City of La Porte City Council deems it to be in the best interest of the community to compensate individuals who serve on a jury in the La Porte Municipal Court of Record, and furthermore, to give such individuals the option to donate their compensation to designated local charitable organizations; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LA PORTE: Section 1. Chapter 46, "Municipal Court", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte is hereby amended by amending Chapter 46 "Municipal Court", Article II "Miscellaneous", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of La Porte, by adding new Section 46-64, which section shall hereinafter read as follows: "Sec. 46-64. Fees for Jury Service. (a) Ten dollars ($10.00) will be paid to each person for each day or part thereof that such person serves as a juror in the trial of cases before the municipal court of record of the city, as reimbursement for travel and other expenses. (b) Each juror entitled to payment for jury service as provided in this section shall have the option of donating their daily reimbursement to a local charity or service program that is operated by a public or private nonprofit organization. (c) Each juror shall be provided a form letter that when signed by the person directs the City to donate the juror, s compensation to any one from a list of designated local public or private nonprofit organizations. The presiding judge of the La Porte Municipal Court of Record shall select the listing of local public and private nonprofit organizations and shall include a brief description of the programs designated for donation, for the benefit of the jurors. Section 2. The City Council officially finds, determines, recites, and declares that a sufficient written notice of the date, hour, place and subject of this meeting of the City Council was posted at a place convenient to the public at the City Hall of the City for the time required by law preceding this meeting, as required by the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Texas Government Code; and that this meeting has been open to the public as required by law at all times during which this ordinance and the subject matter thereof has been discussed, considered and formally acted upon. The City Council further ratifies, approves and confirms such written notice and the contents and posting thereof. Section 3. All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the terms of this ordinance are hereby repealed; provided, however, that such repeal shall be only to the extent of such inconsistency and in all other respects this ordinance shall be cumulative of other ordinances regulating and governing the subject matter covered by this ordinance. Section 4. If any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance, or the application of same to any person or set of circumstances is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, void or invalid, the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance or their application to other persons or sets of circumstances shall not be affected thereby, it being the intent of the City Council in adopting this ordinance that no portion hereof or provision or regulation contained herein shall become inoperative or fail by reason of any unconstitutionality, vividness or invalidity of any other portion hereof, and all provisions of this ordinance are declared to be severable for that purpose. Section 5. This Ordinance shall be effective on October 1, 2013. PASSED AND APPROVED, this day of -2013. By: ATTEST: , 0/7 atrice Fogar City Secretary APPROVED: ark T. Askins Assistant City Attorney CITY OF/L L A(ATE, TEXAS Ma S k. Ri