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PRINTER'S NO. 1330
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
1126
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, SNYDER, DeLUCA, D. COSTA, FREEMAN,
DRISCOLL, SAMUELSON, BULLOCK, KINSEY, GODSHALL, SCHLOSSBERG,
WARD AND GILLEN, APRIL 10, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, APRIL 10, 2017
AN ACT
Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in juries and jurors,
further providing for exemptions from jury duty.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 4503(a) of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended and the section is amended by
adding a subsection to read:
§ 4503. Exemptions from jury duty.
(a) [General rule] Exemptions.--No person shall be exempt
[or excused] from jury duty except the following:
(1) [Persons in active service of the armed forces of
the United States or of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.]
(Reserved).
(2) [Persons who have served within three years next
preceding on any jury except a person who served as a juror
for fewer than three days in any one year in which case the
exemption period shall be one year.] (Reserved).
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(3) [Persons demonstrating to the court undue hardship
or extreme inconvenience may be excused permanently or for
such period as the court determines is necessary, and if
excused for a limited period shall, at the end of the period,
be assigned to the next jury array.] (Reserved).
(4) Spouses, children, siblings, parents, grandparents
and grandchildren of victims of criminal homicide under 18
Pa.C.S. § 2501 (relating to criminal homicide).
(5) Persons who have previously served [for a term of 18
months] on a Statewide investigating grand jury[, including
any extensions thereof,] who opt not to serve.
(6) Persons 75 years of age or older who [request to be
excused] opt not to serve.
(7) Judges and magisterial district judges of the
Commonwealth [and judges of the United States as defined in
28 U.S.C. § 451 (relating to definitions)] who opt not to
serve.
(8) [Breastfeeding women who request to be excused.]
(Reserved).
(9) Judges of the United States as defined in 28 U.S.C.
§ 451 (relating to definitions) who opt not to serve.
(a.1) Excusals.--The following persons may be excused from
jury duty upon request for such period as the court determines
necessary and, at the end of the period, be assigned to the next
jury array:
(1) Persons demonstrating to the court undue hardship or
extreme inconvenience.
(2) Persons in active service of the armed forces of the
United States or of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
(3) Persons who have served as jurors within three years
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next preceding, or one year next preceding for persons
serving as jurors for fewer than three days in any one year.
(4) Breastfeeding women.
(5) Parents or guardians who:
(i) have custody of children seven years of age or
younger and are the primary caregivers of the children;
or
(ii) have custody of school-age children excused
from compulsory attendance at school or a special
education program and who provide instruction for the
children.
(6) Persons who are primary caregivers of elderly family
members or of family members with disabilities.
* * *
Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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