THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

755

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

relating to jurors.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1The legislature finds that under existing statute, self-employed advanced practice registered nurses are not able to claim an exemption from jury service.  Due to the nature of self-employment, these advanced practice registered nurses may face loss of income or financial hardship if called for jury service.

     The legislature further finds that the State is currently facing a severe shortage of healthcare providers.  Advanced practice registered nurses are recognized in Hawaii as primary care providers and provide critical patient care throughout the State.  To ensure that patient access to care is not compromised, it is essential that self-employed advanced practice registered nurses be able to serve their patients as needed.

     Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to enable self-employed advanced practice registered nurses to claim an exemption from service as a juror, similar to the exemption currently offered to actively practicing physicians and dentists.

     SECTION 2.  Section 612-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

     "§612-6  Exempt when.  A person may claim exemption from service as a juror if the person is:

     (1)  An elected official while the legislature is in session, or a judge of the United States, State, or county;

     (2)  An actively practicing physician or dentist;

     (3)  A self-employed advanced practice registered nurse;

    [(3)] (4)  A member of the armed forces or militia when on active service and deployed out-of-state;

    [(4)] (5)  An active member of a police or fire department;

    [(5)] (6)  A person who has served as a juror, either in a court of this State or the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii, within one year preceding the time of filling out the juror qualification form;

    [(6)] (7)  An active member of an emergency medical services agency;

    [(7)] (8)  A person living more than seventy miles from the court for which jury service is required; or

    [(8)] (9)  A person eighty years of age or older.

     For purposes of this section, "emergency medical services agency" means any government agency, private agency, or company that provides ambulance services, emergency medical services, or disaster medical services."

     SECTION 3.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________

 

 


 


 

Report Title:

Jurors; Jury Service; Exemptions; Advanced Practice Registered Nurse

 

Description:

Enables self-employed advanced practice registered nurses to claim an exemption from jury service.

 

 

 

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.